t.. 



^'0 O. 












Xyirr:^'^ 



V'^^ 


















'*i>-<. 






^ j^y?^ "^ ^ 



^^^^.^ .r '-. 



^ o.^ 






%'. ■%^- 









x^ * # 



.'^ .x^^'^/^.- 



'^A ^^^ 



.^ 



0^' V- ^ * » /- '^ 






■ -0 






<^' 



.0 






#' ^/>.. 



>. .'X^ 



^^^ v^' 




(:i--v*^«;^^= 



Authors andAA^riters 



ASSOCIATED WITH 



MORRISTOWN 



»-•-• ;j^2/M^-> — > 



WITH A CHAPTER ON 



HISTORIC MORRISTOWN 



/ 



JULIA KEESECOLLESl AUr: ~^ ' 



V 



.Jl 



'»i?! 



^/f,. 



SECOND EDITION. 



^^5^ i^l*?g---^ 



1895. 
VOGT BROS. 

MoiiRTSTffWN', X. J. 






Kutered according to Act of Cougi'ess, in the year 1^9:;. by 

JITLIA KEESE COLLES 

OL Morristown, New Jersey, in the Office of the I.ibi'arian of C^ongress. 

at Washington. 



DEDICATION. 



to the men and women, of early and of later 
years, who have scattered their pearls of 
beauty and of wisdom along the dusty 
paths of our historic city, these 
pages are inscribed with affec- 
tionate admiration by 
The Author. 



PREFACE. 



This long-promised volume, the first of its kind 
so far as known, ever given to the world, is now 
offered to the public. It is the result of a lecture 
given about three and a half years ago, which was 
repeated by request, and finally promised for pub- 
lication, with the endorsement of one hundred and 
fifty subscribers. 

No effort has been spared to have every state- 
ment in the book accurate ; nor has any name been 
omitted which has presented a title to notice, in 
spite of the fact that the number of "Authors and 
Writers" has nearly doubled since the work of 
publication was undertaken. Any suggestion or 
criticism, however, will be gladly received by the 
author, as having a bearing on possible future 
work in this direction. 

Morristown, New Jersey, February, 1893. 



The rapid exhaustion of the first edition 
(within one month from the time of its publication) 
has necessitated the issuing of a second, which con- 
tains revisions and additions, besides an increased 
number of illustrations. To all those, in and out of 
Morristown, who have so kindly and cordially wel- 
comed the first edition, the author extends sincere 
thanks, trusting that a similar reception awaits the 
second. 

Morristown, New Jersey, December, 1895. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PREFACE. 

POEM— MORRISTOWN. 

HISTORIC MORRISTOWN.. 

'GEORGE WASHINGTON. 

POETS— 

Wm. and Stephen VanR. Paterson . 

Mrs. Elizabeth Clementine Kinney 

Alexander Nelson Easton 

Francis Bret Harte 

Mrs. M. Virginia Donaghe McClurg 

Charlton T. Lewis, LL. D. 

Miss Emma F. R. Campbell 

Mrs. Adelaide S. Buckley 

Rev. J;- Leonard Corning, D. D. 

Rev. Oliver Crane, D. D., LL. D. 

William G. van Tassel Sutphen 

Mrs. Mary Lee Demarest 

Hon. Anthony Q. Keasbey 

Major Lindley Hoffman Miller 

Miss Henrietta Howard Holdich 

William Tuckey Meredith 

Miss Hannah More Johnson . 

Miss Margaret H. Garrard 

Miss Julia E. Dodge 

Charles D. Platt 

Mrs. Julia R. Cutler 

Mrs. Catharine L. Burnham '. 

Miss Frances Bell Coursen . 

Miss Isabel Stone 

Rev. G. Douglass Brewerton . 

Mrs. Alice D. Abell 

George Wetmore -Colles, Jr. . 

HYMNODIST— 

John R. Runyon . 

NOVELISTS AND STORY-WRITERS— 
Francis Richard Stockton 
Francis Bret Harte 
Miss Henrietta Howard Holdich 
Mrs. Miriam Coles Harris 



page 
57 

63 
65 
69 
71 
75 
79 
84 

85 
86 
90 
90 
94 
97 
100 

lOI 

105 
108 
no 

112- 

117 

120 

125 

127 

128 

130 

132 

135 
144 
158 
169 



Miss Maria McIntosh . . . .174. 

Mrs. Maria McIntosh Cox . . . 177 

David Young ..... 182 

Mrs. Nathaniel Conklin . . .192 

Mrs. Catharine L. Burnham . . . 197 

Hon. John Whitehead . ... 205 

Mrs. Georgeanna Huyler Duer . . 207 

Madame de Meissner .... 210 
Miss Isabel Stone .... 212 

Augustus Wood . . . . .218 

Charles P. Sherman . . . .218 

Miss Helen M. Graham . . . 218 

Other Novelists and Story-Writers . 220 

translators- 
Mrs. Adelaide S. Buckley . . . 222 
Miss Margaret H. Garrard . . . 227 
Other Translators . . . . 228 

LEXICOGRAPHER— 

Charlton T. Lewis, LL. D. . . . 230 

HISTORIANS AND ESSAYISTS— 

William Cherry, Ancient Chronicler . 232 

Rev. Joseph F. Tuttle, D. D. . . . 234 

Hon. Edmund D. Halsey . . . 242 

Hon. John Whitehead .... 245 

Bayard Tuckerman .... 248 

Loyall Farragut .... 254 

JosiAH Collins Pumpelly . . . 256 

Miss Hannah More Johnson . . . 260 

Mrs. Julia McNair Wright . . . 265, 
Mrs. Edwina L. Keasbey . . .268 
Mrs. Annie C. Cochran . . .271 

Mrs. Marian E. Stockton . . . 273, 

Mrs. Helen M. T. Headley . . . 277 

TRAVELS AND PERSONAL REMINISCENCES- 

Marquis de Chastellux . . .281 

John L. Stephens . . . .287 

Hon. Charles A. Washburn , . . 289. 

General Joseph Warren Revere . , 291 

Henry Day ...... 294 



theologians- 
Rev. Timothy Johnes, D. D. 

Rev. James Richards, D. D. 

Rev. Albert Barnes 

Rev. Samuel WhelpleV 

Stephens Jones Lewis 

Rev. David Irving, D. D. 

Rev. Rufus Smith Green, D. D. 

Rev. Wm. Durant 

Rev. J. Macnaughtan, D. D. 

Rev. C. DeWitt Bridgman 

Rev. Ellwood H. Stokes, D. D 

Rev. J. T. Crane, D. D. 

Rev. H. a. Buttz, D. D., LL. D 

Rev. Jonathan K. Burr, D. D. 

Rev. James E. Adams 

Rev. James M. Buckley, D. D., LL. D 

Rev. James M. Freeman, D. D. 

Rev. Kinsley Twining, D. D., LL. D 

Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler, D. D. 

Rt. Rev. Wm. Ingraham Kip, D. D., LL. D 

Rev. William Staunton. D. D. 

Rev. Arthur Mitchell, D. D. 

Rev. Charles E. Knox, D. D. 

Rev. Albert Erdman, D. D. 

Rev. Joseph M. Flynn, R. D. . 

Rev. George H. Chadwell 

Rev. William M. Hughes, S. T. ; 
QUIETIST— 

Miss Amanda King 
PUBLIC SPEAKERS AND LAWYERS 

Hon. Lewis Condict, M. D. 

Hon. Jacob W. Miller . 

Hon. William Burnet Kinney 

Hon. Theodore F. Randolph . 

Hon. Edward W. Whelpley 

Hon, Jacob Vanatta 

Hon. George T. Werts . 

Joseph F. Randolph 

Edward O. Keasbey 



XI 

298 

304 
306 

310 
312 

313- 
315 
319 
323 
327 
330- 
332 
334 
336- 
337 
338 
348. 
351 
354 
359 
363 
368 

372 
373 
376 
378 
385 

390 

392 
394 
397 
400 

403 
405 
406 
408 
409 



Xll 



scientists- 
Samuel F. B. Morse, LL. D. 

Alfred Vail 

William Graham Sumner, LL. D. 

Elwyn Waller, Ph. D. . 

George W. Maynard, Ph. D. . 

Emory McClintock, LL. D. 

Andrew F. West, LL. D. 

Senor Jose Gros . 
MEDICAL AUTHORS AND WRITERS- 

CoNDiCT W. Cutler, M. S., M. D. 

Phanet C. Barker, M. D. 

Horace A. Buttolph, M. D., LL. D. 
AUTHORS AND WRITERS ON ART— 

Thomas Nast 

Rev. Jared Bradley Flagg, D. D. 

Rev. J. Leonard Corning, D. D. 

George Herbert McCord, A. N. A. 

dramatist- 
William G. van Tassel Sutphen 



410 

415 
423 
427 
429 
430 
431 
433 

435 
437 
439 

442 
446 

447 
448 



450 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



PAGE 

FRONTISPIECE-OLD MORRISTOWN 

ORIGINAL FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1738 20-21 



OLD ARNOLD TAVERN 

THE DOUGHTY MANSION . 

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1791 

WASHINGTON HEADOUARTERS . 

WICKE FARM HOUSE^ 

MORRIS ACADEMY 

PLAN OF FORT NONSENSE 

SPEEDWELL IRON WORKS 

OLD FACTORY AT SPEEDWELL . 



46 

56; 

122 ^ 

153"^ 

237'' 
261 " 

345^^ 
41 1 ^ 

417 " 






POEM. 

BY HON, WILLIAM PATERSON. 



MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY. 

These are the winter quarters, this is where 
The Patriot Chieftain with his army lay 

When frosty winds swept down and chilled the air, 
And long, cold nights closed out the shorter day. 

The bell still rings within the white church spire, 
Rising toward heaven upon the village green, 

Whose chimes then called the people, pastor, choir, 
To praise and pray each Sabbath morn and e'en. 

And there with them, the Christian soldier sealed 
The common covenant which a dying Lord, 

To those who broke bread with him last revealed, 
And bade them ever thus His love record. 

A country hamlet then, nor did it lose 

Its rural charms and beauties for long years ; 

The stranger would its quiet glories choose. 
Far from the toils and strife of daily cares. 

The people, too, were simple in their ways. 
And dwelt contented in their humble sphere, 

The morning and the evening of their days. 
Passing the same with every closing year. 



V 



14 Poem — Mo7'ristown. 

There were the Deacons, solemn, sober, staid, 
Beneath the pulpit each Communion Sunday, 

They never smiled, but sung their psalms and 
prayed ; 
And then made whiskey at the still on Monday. 



Perhaps you smile just here. I only say 
Men did not deem it then a heinous crime ; 

Such was the common custom of the day, 
As those can tell who recollect the time. 

4f 4f ^ -x- 

Upon the summit of the rock-bound hill 
That looks down on the lowland plains afar, 

Are seen the outlines of the earthworks still 
Eemaining there, rude vestiges of war. 



That was a day to be remembered long, 
When crowds were gathered on the village green^ 

To welcome with warm hearts and floral song, 
Him who a friend in war's dark hour had been. 



And not while nature's suns shall pour their light. 
Will Freedom's sons that honored name forget, 

Nor cease to, until worlds shall pass from sight. 
Keep green the memory of Lafayette. 



There comes a memor^^ of the bugle horn, 
Winding a blast, as with their daily load, 

The prancing coach-steeds dashed out in the morn 
To run the toll-gates of the turnpike road. 



Poem — Morristown. 15 

Behold the change ! now brakes are whistled down, 
And screaming engines wake the mountain air ; 

There is no longer, as of old, a Town 

Committee, but a Council and Lord Mayor. 
* -jf * * 

Oh, fellow scholar who along with me 

Learned the first rudiments of ball and book 

Within the ground of the Academy, 

In vain for that old landmark now you look. 

■TT 4f vr vf 

Change is on all things, and I see it here ; 

Land that then grew the turnip and ^'potater,'^ 
Now blooms in flowers and costs exceeding dear, 

Bringing some thousand dollars by the acre. 

And villas crown the rising hill- tops round, 
And stately mansions stand adorned with art, 

And liveried coaches roll with rumbling sound 
Where once jogged on the wagon wheel and cart. 

Hail to the future, ages come and go, 

And men are borne upon the sweeping tide ; 

Wave follows wave in ever ceaseless flow, 
The present stays not by the dweller's side. 

■H- -Jf ^ 4f 

And I am glad that while there come to me 
These fragrant memories of life's early scene 

That still in robes of purest w^hite I see 

The Church Spire"^ rising on the village green. 

*Lowered at the removal of the old church building, by Hou. Oscar 
Lindsley, on the afternoon of April 18th, 1893, and presented by him to 
the Washington Association. Erected by the Association at Washington 
Headquarters. 



HISTORIC MORRISTOWN 



Throughout our country, there is no spot 
more identified with the story of the Revolution, 
and the personality of Washington, than Morris- 
town. Nestled among its five ranges of hills, its 
impregnable position no doubt first attracted the 
attention of the commander-in-chief and that of 
his trusted quartermaster, General Nathaniel 
Greene. Besides, the enthusiastic patriotism of the 
men and women of this part of New Jersey was 
noted far and wide, and the powder-mill of Col. 
Jacob Ford, Jr., on the Whippany River, where 
*'good merchantable powder" was in course of 
manufacture, — some of which had probably al- 
ready been tested at Trenton, Princeton, and else- 
where, — was also among the attractions. 

It was on December 20th, 1776, that Washing- 
ton wrote to the President of Congress : "I have 
directed the three regiments from Ticonderoga, to 
halt at Morristown, in Jersey (where I understand 
about eight hundred Militia have collected) in order 
to inspirit the inhabitants and as far as possible to 
cover that part of the country." 

<Quotecl by Rev. Dr. Tuttie in bis paper on " Washington in Moi-ris 
County," in the Historical Magazine for June, 1871.) 

These were regiments from New England. 
The British, who were always trying to gain ^* the 



Historic Morristown. IT 

pass of the mountains," had made an attempt on 
the 14th of December, but had been repulsed by 
Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., with his mihtia, at Spring- 
field. 

At this time the village numbered about 250 
inhabitants with a populous community of thriving 
farmers surrounding it. To the north of the town 
were the estates of the Hathaway and Johnes 
families ; to the east, those of the Fords, who had 
just erected the building now known as the Head- 
quarters ; to the south, those of General John 
Doughty, and to the west, those of Silas Condict 
and his brothers. 

Morris County w^as settled "about 1710," by 
families of New England ancestry, who were at- 
tracted by the iron ore in the mountains round 
about and who came from Newark and Elizabeth- 
town. The Indian name for the country round, 
seems to have been '^Rockciticus" as late as the 
arrival of Pastor Johnes in 1Y42, according to the 
traditions in his family. The original name of the 
settlement of Morristown was West Hanover, and 
in court records this name is found as late as 1738. 
It was also called New Hanover. The present name 
was adopted when the county court held its first 
meeting here at the bouse of Col. Jacob Ford, on 
March 25th, 1740. The town was named for the 
county, and the county was named for Governor 
Lewis Morris, who was Governor of New Jersey 



IS Historic Morristown. 

from 1738 to 174:6. Evidently this was to be the 
county town of Morris County. 

At the time of the Kevolution the church, the 
''Court House and Jail," and the Arnold Tavern 
were the most important buildings. The Magazine 
also, a temporary structure, stood on South street, 
near the "Green." To it casks of powder were 
constantly taken, and sometimes casks of sand to 
deceive the spies who were always hanging about. 
The "Court House and Jail" w^as famous as the 
common prison of Tories caught in Morris and the 
adjoining counties. It was built in 1755 and stood 
on the northwest corner of the village " Green " as 
shown in the picture of Old Morristown. It was a 
plain wooden structure with a cupola and bell. 
The sides of this building were not "shingled," as 
some accounts have it, but according to the testi- 
mony of those who saw it in its last days, it was a 
weather-boarded building and gray with age. 
When it was taken down and the siding taken off, 
iron bars were found to have been placed in the 
studding about the jail walls, on the first story. 

One of the illustrations of this book is of the 
Arnold Tavern, as it appeared in Washington's 
time. The picture is from a pen-and-ink sketch 
by Miss S. Howell, made originally and recently for 
the Washington Association of N. J., under careful 
direction from study of the time, by one of its 
members. Taverns were dotted all about the 




§ CO 

I 










OKIGINAL FIRST FRESBYTEUIAN CHURCH. 

Painted by According to 

MISS EMMA H. VAXPELT. 



SOME LOCAL TK ADIT ION. 



Historic Morristoivn. 21 

country in those days and most of the public meet- 
ings were held in their spacious rooms. Whether 
it was this fact or because of certain qualities 
possessed by the early proprietors of taverns, we 
find that many of them eventually became the 
most eminent men of the community. 

About this ancient town cluster the most sacred 
and dramatic memories of the Revolution, and of 
the long years which have passed since then. Most 
of these historic memories concentre, or are in 
some way associated with Morristown's First 
Church, and the influeiices of this old church are 
not only closely involved with all the history, of 
the place and the surrounding country, but are 
felt and shown all through this book. In the old 
burying-ground of this ''First Church" lies the 
dust of Eevolutionary heroes — the patriots and 
honored dead of the century gone by. 

The erection of the First Church building was 
begun in 1738, and finished in 1740, although the 
organization had existed from 1733. The first 
pastor, Rev. Timothy Johnes, found it ready for his 
reception on his arrival in 1712, and for his instal- 
lation, the following year. We are indebted to 
Miss Emma H. Van Pelt for a painting of this early 
church, from the only outline that remains to us, 
and to Miss S. Howell for the pen-and-ink sketch, 
from the painting, for this book". (See page 20.) 
This outline was embroidered upon a sampler 



22 Historic Morristoiun. 

owned by Miss Martha Enimell, (who lived where 
the Methodist Church now stands), and, according 
to family history, is a faithful representation of the 
building, and the only suggestion other than tradi- 
tional of Morristown's first place of worship. Miss 
Van Pelt's picture of the old church also follows in 
all respects her own, and the study of others, from 
the ancient records of the time. The structure 
stood about a rod east of the present building, 
facing upon Morris street, and was always known 
as the "Meetin' House." It was originally of a 
somewhat plain and barn -like exterior, nearly 
square, with shingled sides, and windows let into 
the sloping roof. It was twice altered. In 176J:, a 
steeple was erected in which was hung the bell in 
use at the present time. Ten years later, — in 1774, 
— the church was enlarged "by being sawn asun- 
der in the centre," and two other entrances, besides 
the main entrance, were provided — one at each end. 
Naturally a strong desire is felt to know the 
exact appearance of the earliest "First Church" 
building. Since the first edition of this book 
was published, it is found that a difference 
of opinion exists as to whether the tower sprang 
from the middle of the church building, or 
was placed at the west end. The sampler, above 
referred to, which is the only outline we have, was 
so indefinite, and the proportions so imperfect in 
drawing and perspective, that it would admit of 



Historic Morristoiun. 23 

placing the spire at either the end or centre of the 
building. We therefore give another sketch of 
Miss Van Pelt's, (page 21) taken also from the sam- 
pler outline, with the tower springing from the 
centre, according to some local tradition. 

In favor of the first theory, we have the au- 
thority of the Eeverend David Irving, D. D., in his 
"Historical Sermon," preached on Thanksgiving 
Day, 1861. and published in The Record of May, 
1S81, (pp. 129, 130). The Eev. Dr. Irving also 
refers, in the same sermon {Record, p. 121), to Dr. 
Lewis Condict, as "one yet amongst us in a vigo- 
rous old age," and he quotes Dr. Condict's recollec- 
tions. The authority of the Rev. Dr. Irving for the 
tower at the end seems also to be corroborated by 
the fact that a "Dame's School" was held for a 
short time — after the main building was removed, 
— in the tower, which remained, and this school 
was known as the "Steeple School." This could 
apparently not have been done had the tower and 
spire sprung from the centre of the building. 

This early church and the Baptist church — 
which stood on the site occupied by the one recently 
removed, where now stands the " McAlpin Block," 
and at the angle on Speedwell avenue opposite 
Water street — have honorable record for unselfish 
devotion to the cause of the patriots. Both build- 
ings were nobly given up for the use of the soldiers, 
suffering with small-pox, in the terrible winter of 



24 Historic Morristown. 

The bell of the old ''First Church" has a 
curious history and is one of the most interesting 
objects in the town to-day, Of this the Rev. Dr. 
Irving says, in the sermon above referred to, 
writing of the spire which was raised in 1774 : 
''and a bell was hung — the same bell which still 
summons the people to the house of God. The 
traditional history of the bell is that it was pre- 
sented to the church at Morristown by the King of 
Great Britain. It has on it the impress of the 
British Crown and the name of the makers, 
' Lister & Pack of London, —fecit '. " ' ^ This bell, "^ 
we are told, (Rev. Dr. Tuttle writing recently) 
' ' could be heard at Parsippany, and old people say 
it sounded better in the old church than in the 
new. It could be heard at all the encampments in 
the region." Imagination may take many a flight 
in considering the influences and associations of 
this bell. On Sunday, June 26th, 1864, about 2:15 
P. M., the bell fell flve or six feet. A few pieces 
were broken from its crown. It was re-cast at 
Troy and the same bell rings to- day in the First 
Church building. 

Washington first came to Morristown, with 
his staff and army on January 6th, 1777, three 
da5^s after the battle of Princeton, and left there, 
for Middlebrook, on May 2Sth and 29th of that 
year.^ This movement of the Commander was 
one of the most important of the war. His dis- 

*Bakei''s " Itineiary of Washiugtou." 



Historic Morristown. 25 

€Overy of the fact that Morristown was a strategic 
point of great importance, and the apphcation of 
his discovery at that moment, gained for him the 
admiration of the greatest mihtary minds of 
Europe and gave to him at once a great reputation 
as a general. Frederick the Great is said to have 
exclaimed when he heard of it, that it was the 
.greatest manoeuvre of history. " The patriots," 
says Mr. William P. Tuttle, "could not be dis- 
lodged nor safely attacked, even by great forces, 
so strongly were they posted, and the entire state 
was at their mercy, so that the English general 
could not move a small body of men anywhere, or 
even communicate with Philadelphia without a 
pass from General Washington." 

Washington made his Headquarters at the 
Arnold Tavern, then kept by Colonel Jacob Arnold, 
a famous officer of the "Light Horse Guards," 
whose grandsons are now residents of Morristown. 
This historic building (see page 46) stood on the 
west side of the "Green," where now, a large brick 
building, "The Arnold," has been erected on its 
site. This old building with its many associations 
was about to be destroyed, when it was rescued, at 
the suggestion of the author of this book, and re- 
stored upon its present site on the CoUes estate, on 
Mt. Kemble avenue, the old Baskingridge road of 
the Eevolution. It has recently been purchased 
and occupied for a hospital by the All Souls' Hos- 



26 Historic Morristown. 

pital Association. Though extended and enlarged, 
it is still the same building and retains many of the 
distinctive features which characterized it when 
the residence of Washington. Here is still the 
bedroom which Washington occupied, the parlor, 
the dining-room and the ball-room where he re- 
ceived his generals, Greene, Knox, Schuyler, Gates, 
Lee, de Kalb, Steuben, Wayne, Winds, Putnam, 
Sullivan and others, besides distinguished visitors 
from abroad, all of whom met here continually 
during the vinter of 1777. One of these visitors 
and one of our authors, the Marquis de Chastellux, 
gives an interesting account of his experience and 
impressions. In one of the bedrooms of this old 
house, has been seen within a few years, between 
the floor and the ceiling below, a long case for 
guns, above which was painted on the floor, in 
very large squares, covering the entire opening, 
a checker-board about which, in an emergency, 
evidently the soldiers expected to sit and so conceal 
from the enemy the trap door of their arsenal. 
About this ancient building many traditions linger 
and from it have gone forth Washington's com- 
mands and some of his most important letters. 

The road taken by Washington and his army, 
on coming first to Morristown, was, according to 
Dr. Tuttle, "through Pluckamin, Baskingridge, 
New Vernon, thence by a grist mill near Green 
Village, around the corner and thence along the 



Historic Morristoiun. 27 

road leading from Green Village to Morristown 
and over the ground which had been selected 
for an encampment in the valley bearing the 
beautiful Indian name of Lowantica, now called 
Spring Valley." It was here that the terrible 
scourge of small-pox broke out among the soldiers. 
One cannot but wonder continually at Wash- 
ington's courage and serenity in the midst of such 
overwhelming difficulties. He had hardly entered 
his winter home, in the Arnold Tavern, when the 
loss was announced to him of the brave and noble 
Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., his right-hand man, upon 
whom he had depended. He was buried, by Wash- 
ington's orders, with the honors of war, and the 
description of that funeral cortege is one of the 
most picturesque pages out of traditional history. 
Then came the alarm about small-pox, the first 
death occurring on the same day as Col. Ford's 
funeral. Washington himself was taken ill, says 
tradition, with quinsy sore throat, and great fears 
were felt for his life. It is interesting to know 
that being asked who should succeed him in com- 
mand of the army, should he not recover, he at 
once pointed to Gen. Nathaniel Greene. It was 
during this time of residence at the Arnold Tavern, 
that Washington joined Pastor Johnes and his 
people in their semi-annual communion after re- 
ceiving the good pastor's assurance : '' Ours is not 
the Presbyterian table, but the Lord's table, and 



28 Historic Morristoivn. 

we give the Lord's invitation to all his followers 
of whatever name." This is said to be the only oc- 
casion in his public career, when it is certainly- 
known that Washington partook of the Sacrament. 
The hollow is still shown behind the house of Pas- 
tor Johnes, on Morris street, (purchased Feb. 23d, 
1893, of Mrs. Eugene Avers, for the Morristown 
Memorial Hospital,) where a grove of trees then 
stood, when this historic event took place in the 
open air, while the church building was taken up 
with the soldiers sick of small-pox. Of this fact, 
in addition to the confirmation of Rev. Timothy 
Johnes's granddaughter, now living, Mrs. Kirt- 
land, we have the following from Mr. Frederick 
G. Burnham, who says, (Oct. 12th, 1892); "My 
Aunt, Huldah Lindsley, sister of Judge Silas Con- 
diet, and born in Morristown, gave me, In the most 
distinct and definite manner, an account of Gen- 
eral Washington's having communed v/ith the 
Presbyterian Church on the occasion of the en- 
campment in Morristown. My aunt told me that 
the congregation sat out of doors, even in the win- 
ter, but were shielded from the severe winds by 
surrounding high ground, that benches were placed 
in a circular position, that the pastor occupied a 
central point and that it was in this out-of-door 
place, muffled in their thickest clothing and many 
of them warmed by foot-stoves and other arrange- 
ments for keeping the feet warm, with nothing 



Historic Morristown. 29 

overhead but the wintry sky, that the congrega- 
tion, among them General Washington, partook of 
the Lord's Supper." 

Early in December 1779, came Washington 
-once more, with his army, to Morristown, and re- 
mained until the following June, the guest of Mrs. 
Theodosia Ford, widow of the gallant Col. Jacob 
Ford, Jr.. at her home now known as the "Head- 
<3uarters" (see page 153). The story of the purchase 
and preservation of this building for the state and 
•country, by the Washington Association of New 
Jersey, is given farther on. "It is still," says the 
orator of Fort Nonsense (the Rev. Dr. Buckley), 
*Hhe most charming residence which Morristown 
•contains and historically inferior only in interest to 
Mount Vernon and far superior to it in beauty of 
location and surrounding scenery." Among the 
priceless treasures of the Headquarters is the origi- 
nal Commission to Washington, as Commander-in- 
■chief of the Army. 

At the opening ceremonial of the Washington 
Headquarters on July 5th, 1875, Governor Theo- 
dore F. Randolph, in an eloquent address, said as 
follows : 

"Under this roof have been gathered more 
characters known to the Military history of our 
jRevolution than under any other roof in America. 
Here the eloquent and brilliant Alexander Hamil- 
ton lived during the long winter of l779-'80 and 



30 Historic Morristown. 

here he met and courted the lady he afterwards 
married — the daughter of General Schuyler. Here 
too was Greene — splendid fighting Quaker as he 
was — and the great artillery officer, Knox, the 
stern Steuben, the polished Kosciusko, the brave 
Schuyler, gallant Light-horse Harry Lee, old Israel 
Putnam, "Mad Anthony" Wayne, and, last to be 
named of all, that brave soldier, but rank traitor — 
Benedict Arnold." 

In very striking language, Dr. McClintock tells 
us, in his admirable paper on the " Topography of 
Washington's iCamp of ITSO and of its Neighbor- 
hood," read before the Washington Association on 
February 22d, 189^, that " Towards the end of 1^79 
the County of Morris was entered by a great multi- 
tude of men, who built what was for those days a 
large city and dwelt in it more than half a year. 
No such aggregation of humanity has ever been 
seen before or since within the county. - '^ '^ 

'^ Early in December, there must have been 
more than 12,000 Continental troops in the town- 
ship, besides a smaller army of wagoners, commis- 
sary men, hospital aids, servants, sutlers, and 
camp followers in general, not to speak of visiting 
relatives and friends, of whom there were not a 
few." 

Many authenticated stories are extant of 
Washington, himself, andoE the other distinguished 
inmates of the Headquarters during this memorable 



Historic Morristoivn. 31 

winter. Of the women of Morris County too, and 
the country round, many historic tales are told. 
If possible, they seem to have been even more 
patriotic than the men, whom, on several occasions, 
they upheld when wavering with doubt or fear. 
They had knitting and sewing circles for the sol- 
diers in camp upon the Wicke Farm. These were 
presided over by Mrs. Ealph Smith, on Smith's 
Hummock, by Mrs. Anna Kitchell, at Whippany, 
and by Mrs. Counsellor Condict and Mrs. Parson 
Johnes, in Morristown. 

In all this sympathetic work, Martha Wash- 
ington led, and we hear of her that after coming 
through Trenton on December 28th, in a raging 
snow storm, to spend New Year's Day in the Ford 
Mansion, some of the grand ladies of the town 
came to call upon her, dressed in their most ele- 
gant silk and ruffles, and "so", says one of them, 
(as told by Eev. Dr. Tuttle), " we were intro- 
duced to her ladyship, and don't you think we 
found her with a speckled homespun apron on, 
and engaged in knitting a stocking f She received 
us very handsomely and then again resumed her 
knitting. In the course of the conversation, she 
said, very kindly to us, whilst she made her 
needles fly, that 'American ladies should be pat- 
terns of industry to their countrywomen, * * 
* * we must become independent of England by 
doing without those articles which we can make 



32 Historic Morristown. 

ourselves. Whilst our husbands and brothers are 
examples of patriotism, we must be examples of 
industry'. ^ I do declare,' said one of the ladies 
afterwards, ^ I never felt so ashamed and rebuked 
in my life !' " 

The "Assembly Balls," a subscription enter- 
tainment, no doubt arranged to keep up the spirits 
of the army officers, w^ere held that winter at what 
was known as the Continental Building, (after- 
wards the O'Hara Tavern), a house facing the 
"Grreen" and on or adjoining the lot where now 
stands Washington Hall. This building is marked 
on one of Washington's maps as the Continental 
Store, and seems to have been originally built for 
storing army supplies. It was in a large room 
over the commissary's store-house that the dances 
were held. 

In the meadow, in front of the Headquarters, 
Washington's body-guard was encamped, origi- 
nally a select troop of about one hundred Virginians, 
but increased at Morristown to 250 men. Tradi- 
tion tells us that the bread for this Life Guard and 
for Headquarters w^as baked in an oven near Ford's 
powder mill on the Whippany river about half a 
mile beyond. 

Martha Washington was a fine horsewoman 
and the General a superb horseman, as are all Vir- 
ginians of the present day. Many were the rides 
they took together over the country, one of the 



Historic Morristoiun. 33^ 

most frequent, being to a certain elevation on the 
Siiort Hills, from which the General with his glass 
could see every movement of the enemy. Here 
was stationed the giant alarm-gun, an eighteen- 
pounder, and here was the main centre of the 
system of beacon-lights on the hills around. From 
this point can be seen the entire sea-board in the 
vicinity of New York City, which was of great 
importance when it was not known whether Howe 
would move towards West Point or Philadelphia. 
There is also a view of the entire region west of 
the mountain, ' '' to the crown of the hills which 
lie back of Morristown, and extending to Basking- 
ridge, Pluckamin and the hills in the vicinity of 
Middlebrook on the South, and over to Whippany, 
Montville, Pompton, Ringwood, and, across the 
State-line among the mountains of Orange County, 
N. Y., on the north." 

On April 5th of the present year, (1895) the 
writer, with Mr. Wilham P. Tuttle, the historian of 
Madison, N. J., stood upon this spot, which is soon 
to be marked by a monument, and with appro- 
priate ceremonies, by the Sons of the American 
Revolution. This signal station was perhaps the 
most important of the war. It gave warning to 
the army and its chief as well as to the people. 
Looking eastward Staten Island may be seen, the 
Hudson and New York City, the Statue of Liberty 
and Trinity Steeple. Bishop Hobart passed his 



34: Historic Morristown. 

summers here, and it is said that when wanted at 
Trinity Church in New York, he was signalled by 
a flag from the steeple, when he drove over to Eliz- 
abethtown and went across with the ferry. The 
gun was known as "The Old Sow," probably 
because of its deep voice. It retained this name 
during the eutire war, and goes by it in history. 

On the road to Madison, we may call up in 
imagination, the vision, which in those days was 
no unusual sight, says Dr. Tuttle, of "AYashington 
and his accomplished lady, mounted on bay horses 
and accompanied by their faithful mulatto, ' Bill, ' 
and fifty or sixty mounted Life-guards, passing on 
their way to or from their quarters in Morristown. 
At these times the ^star-spangled banner' was 
sure to float from the village liberty pole, while 
our ancestors congregated along the highway 
where he was to pass and around the village inn, to 
do honor to the man to whose fidelity and martial 
skill all eyes were turned for the salvation ot our 
country." 

Sometimes this cavalcade would pass along the 
Baskingridge road, (now Mt. Kemble Avenue), 
— the great highway of the Eevolutionary times, — 
perhaps to stop at General Doughty's house, or, 
galloping on, stop at the Kemble mansion, (after- 
wards the Hoyt residence and now that of Mr, 
McAlpin), four miles from town, or turning the 
corner up Kemble Hill to the Wicke farm, and Fort 



Historic Morristoivn. 35 

Hill, to view the soldiers' encampment, they would 
clatter back again, down the precipitous Jockey 
Hollow road, past the Hospital-field, or burial place 
of the soldiers, stopping at the Headquarters of 
General Knox, (the oldest portion of a farm house 
seen on the hihside from the Mendham road, on 
the place of Mr. Charles Gr. Foster)— for Mrs. Knox 
and Mrs. Washington were close friends. Eeturn- 
ing, they might slacken rein at the house of Pastor 
Johnes, (the Memorial Hospital) on Morris street, 
where a ring remained until recently, at the side 
of the piazza, to which Washington's horse was 
tied, under an elm tree's shade ; or, they would 
stop at Quartermastei' Lewis's, (Mr. Wm. L. King's) 
where they would find Lafayette, after his return 
from France, — if he happened to be in Morristown, 
according to a tradition in the family ; then at Dr. 
Jabez Campfield's house, on Morris street, the east 
corner of Oliphant Lane (recently removed to the 
rear of the lot, but retaining largely its original 
characteristics) — the '' Headquarters of General 
Schuyler," as named in Lossing's Field Book. (In 
1880 they were the quarters of Surgeon General 
John Cochran whose wife was General Schuyler's 
only sister. Schuyler was a member of Congress 
in 1880.) 

Again the General, with his Life-guards, would 
set out to attend some appointed meeting of the 
^^ Council of Safety" at the house of its president, 



36 Historic Morristown. 

Silas Condict. This was about a mile out ou the 
Sussex Turnpike, where the house still stands, on 
the west side of the old cross-road leading from 
that turnpike to Brant's paper mill. Here he 
would meet the high-minded and dauntless Gover- 
nor Livingston and perhaps his son-in-law, Judge 
Symmes, who lived near by, and whom the Gover- 
nor frequently visited ; all were men whose lives- 
were sought for by the British. Nearly all these 
homes are standing now and representatives of 
these families remain with us. Stories and tradi- 
tions also relating to these homes and people have 
come down to us. 

Silas Condict, the bold, the brave, the honored 
patriot, member of the Provincial Legislature and 
of the Continental Congress besides filling other 
high places of trust, is represented by his great- 
grand-son, Hon. Aug. W. Cutler, who now occu- 
pies the second house this ancestor built. 

General John Doughty's interesting old hou.se^ 
with its curious interior, and many a secret closet, 
stands as of old, on Mt. Kemble Avenue, at the 
head of CoUes Avenue. "He might be called,'^ 
says Mr. Wm. L. King, "the most distinguished 
resident of Morristown, at whose house Washington 
was a frequent visitor and no doubt often dined." 
He is represented by a great-nephew, Mr. Thomas 
W. Ogden, who has written an important paper on 
General Doughty, for the Washington Association, 



Historic Morristown. 37 

which is pubhshed by them. General Doughty 
was the third in command of the American Army, 
and succeeded General Knox. 

Surgeon General Cochran's Headquarters has 
a romantic interest as the scene of the courtship 
between Miss Elizabeth Schuyler and Alexander 
Hamilton, then one of Washington's aids. 

Of Pastor Johnes' descendants^ four generations 
are now with us, to some of whom we have referred 
in the sketch of this distinguished man. 

Out on the Wicke Farm stands a house which 
is noted in many ways, but especially for a certain 
famous and well authenticated story of the Eeyo- 
lution. This house stands very much as it was in 
1T80 and is near Fort Hill from which is seen the 
magnificent view which embraces Schooley's Moun- 
tain to the westward and a line of broken highlands 
to the south, among which is the town of Basking- 
ridge where General Lee was captured. On the 
northern slope of this hill, as late as 1854, 66 fire- 
places of the encampment were counted in regular 
rows and in a small space were found 196 hut 
chimneys. The story runs that near the close of the 
encampment in Morristown of 1780, horses were 
much needed by the army to remove army stores 
and for cavalry. One morning, Tempe (or Tem- 
peiauce) Wicke, who was a fine rider, went upon 
her beautiful young horse to visit at the house of 
Mr. Leddell, her brother-in-law, on the Mendham 



38 Historic Morristown, 

Koad. On her return, some soldiers accosted her 
who commanded her to dismount. Eetaining her 
self-possession, she parleyed with them until they 
were completely thrown off their guard, when 
suddenly she touched the spirited animal with the 
whip, and flew like an arrow up the hill, followed 
by shots. She sprang off at the kitchen door of 
her home, led the horse through kitchen and parlor 
into the guest chamber, (seen on the extreme left 
of the engraving, page 237) which had one window 
secured with a shutter. The soldiers searched barn 
and woods in vain, and the horse was saved by 
keeping him in that bed-room for three weeks, 
until every man of the army had gone to fight his 
country's battles on the banks of the Hudson. 

Going up a long, high street, not far from the 
Park, gradually ascending over rocks, and rough 
winding pathways, we come upon an open plateau 
on which is " Fort Nonsense," so named, on leav- 
ing it, by Washington, says tradition, because the 
soldiers had here been employed in constructing an 
octagonal earthwork, only to occupy them and to 
keep them from that idleness which was certain to 
breed discontent when added to their poverty, poor 
shelter, hopelessness, and homelessness. This was 
however, a beacon station, including a gun for day 
alarms. Here, on the bright afternoon of April 
2Yth, 1888, a monument to commemorate the site, 
was unveiled with appropriate ceremonies by the 



Historic Morristown. 39 

Washington Association. Long will be remem- 
bered the strange and startling effect upon those 
who sat waiting, as the procession drew near 
at a quick-step, up the hill, and led by the Fair- 
child Continental Drum Corps (Morristown's family 
of drummers for half a century), in characteristic 
dress. Nearer and nearer came the tramp of many 
feet, to the sound of fife and drum, playing Yankee 
Doodle, and, as they emerged from the trees upon 
the hill, it seemed as if Time's clock had been 
turned back more than a hundred years. The 
plan of the Fort, (see page 345) drawn by Major 
J. P. Farley, U. S. A., is now at the Head- 
quarters, and the illustration in this volume is 
given from an engraving of the Messrs. Vogt, by 
their kind permission. 

We have to record, since the first edition of 
this book was issued, the passing of the old white 
church — the second First Church building —which 
had measured its hundred years and more upon the 
Park. It v/as erected in 1791 and, in October 1891, 
prolonged and interesting services were held to 
celebrate the centennial of its erection. We give a 
picture of it and of the Soldier's Monument on 
page 122, (for the use of which we are again in- 
debted to the Messrs. Vogt.) "On March Uth, 
1893, at 10:15 A. M.," the spire was taken down, 
and fifteen feet of the top with balls and weather 
vane were presented to the Headquarters by Hon. 



40 Histomc Morristoivn. 

Oscar Lindsley who purchased the old building. 
Very many of the residents of this town both in 
and out of the church were filled with a deep mel- 
ancholy at the removal of this ancient landmark, 
which feeling still remains. At 4:30 P. M. on 
Thursday, July 20th, 1893, the corner stone was 
laid of che third church building of Morristown's 
First Church organization, and on Sunday, Sep- 
tember 9th, 1894, the dedication services were held. 
It is a beautiful edifice of Eomanesque architecture, 
much after the order of the Italian basilica, with 
coffered ceiling and tower of campanile form. 

The architecture of Morristown has been still 
further advanced by the erection of the picturesque 
new Baptist Church on Washington street and the 
fine conglomerate stone parsonage of the Methodist 
Church upon the Park. The stately pile of St. 
Peter's, early English Gothic, still awaits its tower. 
The other churches are referred to through the 
book. 

The " Old Academy ", dear to the hearts of its 
students, (see page 261) was an outcome of the 
First Church organization, and its early history is 
recorded in the "Trustees' Book," of the church. 
Its centennial was observed on February 13th, 1891, 
by its successor, the present Morris Academy, on 
which occasion, among others, Hon. John White- 
head, of Morristown, and Judge William Paterson, 
of Perth Amboy, told its story, and the '^OldBell", 



Historic Morristoivn. 41 

placed on the stage, was rung by Mr. Edward Pier- 
son, who attended the Academy in 1820. 

In 1825, Lafayette came again, from France, to 
revisit the scenes of the Ee volution. It was on 
July llrth, about six o'clock in ttie evening, that 
coming from Paterson, by the Columbia Road, he 
arrived at Morristown. The Morris Brigade under 
General Darcy was paraded on the Green and 
the firing of cannon and the ringing of church bells 
announced his coming. General Doughty was 
Grand Marshal of the day and an eloquent ad- 
dress was made, in behalf of the town, by Hon. 
Lewis Condict. Lafayette dined at the Ogdeu 
House, the home of Charles H. Ogden, a large 
brick building corner of Market street and the 
Green (shown in the frontispiece). He attended a 
ball given in his honor, at the Sansay House (now 
Mrs. Revere's, on DeHart street), and stayed over 
night with Mr. James Wood, in the white house, 
corner of South and Pine streets. Four of Morris- 
town's citizens have given their reminiscences of 
this event to the author of this book. 

Mr. Edward Pierson, December 10, 1895, says : 
"I remember well each member of the Committee 
who received Lafayette, but two. I remember very 
well the visit of General Lafayette to Morristown, 
in the year 1825. There was a delegation went 
from Morristown, in carriages and on horseback, to 
meet him beyond Morristown and escort him here. 



42 Historic Morristown. 

They came in by the Morris street road, past the 
Washington Headquarters. At that time there 
was only one small house on the north side of the 
street, below the present Manse of the First Church 
to the foot of the hill. The ground sloped from 
the graveyard to the street and was filled with 
people to see the procession come in. A reception 
was given and Lafayette was taken to the James 
Wood house (white house on the east corner of Pine 
and South streets, opposite my residence), to spend 
the night. I well remember the next morning see- 
ing them start off with the General and his party 
in a four-horse carriage." 

Morristown has always been a centre, not only 
geographically, but a centre of influence from the 
time when it received its name. The roads radiate 
in every direction, so that there is a drive, different 
in character, for every day of the month. It was in 
driving through one of the wild passes of the hills, 
the Jockey Hollow road, some years ago, that 
the wife of Audubon"^', the naturalist, herself an 
extensive traveller, said to the writer, she had 
never seen anywhere, over the United States, such 
a variety of trees. 

In the early religious movements of the coun- 
try, Morristown was conspicuous, having amoug 
its theologians some of the most brilliant thinkers 
of the period. Recently we find, in the published 

♦John James Audubon, the distinguished American ornithologist, 
resided in Morristown for a short time in his youth. 



Historic Morristown. 4^ 

minutes of the Synod of New Jersey, Oct. 1892, 
the significant fact recorded that after the division 
of the Presbytery of New York, into that of New 
York and of New Jersey, the ^^ Presbytery of 
Jersey at its first meeting in Morristown, April 
24th, 1810, did appoint supphes for fourteen Sab- 
baths from May to September, to the pulpit of the 
vacant Brick Church in the City of New York." 

One of the first Sunday Schools, if not the first, 
in New Jersey, was started here, by Mrs. Charlotte 
Ford Condict, of Littleton, the grand-mother of 
Henry Vail Condict, now a resident of Morristown, 
and this was said to be the beginning of the great 
revival under Albert Barnes. 

In a scientific direction, Morristown was the 
cradle of perhaps the greatest invention of the age, 
the electric telegraph. Also at the Speedwell Iron 
Works were manufactured the first tires, axles 
and cranks of American locomotives and a part of 
the machinery of the "Savannah," the first steam- 
ship that crossed the ocean. 

Morristown also reflected the superstitions of 
the period ; the people largely believed in witch- 
craft in those early days, and here was enacted, for 
about a year, the most remarkable ghostly drama 
that was ever published to the world, or influenced 
the best citizens of a community. The story of the 
Morristown Grhost will go down to future ages. 

Judge Wm. Paterson writes from Perth Am- 



44 Historic Morristoivn. 

boy, Dec. 2, 1895 : "Another memory is that of 
witnessing the last flogging at the whipping post 
in Morristown, (in or about 1830), being that of a 
^ nigger ' for stealing honey. The bees with their 
hives were disinterested spectators of the proceed- 
ing. A curious feature was that the institution 
was located near the Liberty Pole." 

In 1842-'46, the finest hotel in the United 
States stood on the Park, corner of Market street, 
and extended back to the "Brick Stables," which 
are all that remain of it at this day. It was built 
by the late William Gibbons, of Madison, to accom- 
modate the large numbers of people who were 
flocking to Morristown for its altitude and health - 
fulness, and was called by him, first the Morris 
County House, then the New Jersey Hotel : it is 
referred to also by writers as the "Morris Hotel."* 
On May 6th, 1846, this building was set on fire by 
Drake's Hotel, (the old O'Hara Tavern adjoining), 
and completely destroyed, making a conflagration 
which was the greatest ever known in this region. 
Crowds came from all the country round to witness 
the spectacle. 

Many of the great men of our time have visited 
Morristown in recent years. General Grant's face 
and form were familiar during the residence of his 

*Not to be confused with the old Norris Tavern, which still stands 
on the east corner of Water and Spring streets, and in which the (;ourt 
martial of Benedict Arnold took place (for misconduct in Fhiladeli)hia), 
the result of which angered him and no doubt in part caused his subse- 
quent defection. 



Historic Morristown. 45 

son, Col. Fred. Grant, in the Skidmore cottage on 
South street, in (1883-5) and he was frequently 
seen chatting with his friend Admiral Worden, 
(who commanded the Monitor in the memorable 
fight between the Monitor and Merrimac), on the 
piazza of the house, No. 10 Prospect street, then 
occupied by Admiral Worden's daughter, Mrs. Bus- 
by. General Sherman visited the town on several 
occasions, notably to attend the wedding of Miss 
Edith Sherman, June 15, 18S7, at the old Burnham 
homestead on Speedwell avenue. Admiral Farra- 
gut visited at the Colles homestead on the spot 
now named for him, in the summer of 1869. Gene- 
ral Fitz John Porter has been a resident, dur- 
ing the years of his trials and his triumphs, and 
many others have come and gone with treasured 
recollections of the place and people. 

For philanthrophy, from Eevolutionary times, 
Morristown has been famed, since Martha set the 
example of knitting the stockings for the needy 
soldiers, and good Hannah Thompson voiced the 
hearts of her sisters round about, when she gave 
food to a starving company of them, saying : " Eat 
all you want ; you are engaged in a good cause, and 
we are willing to share with you what we have as 
long as it lasts." This old centre of patriotism and 
Eevolutionary enthusiasm has radiated philan- 
thropic movements which influence not only the 
conditions of the whole State, but the welfare of 



40 Historic Morristouii. 

humanity. Here was commenced that vokmtaiy 
work of the State Charities Aid Association, which 
considers, and practically cari'ies out. through its 
counselors, measures for i^eform among the pauper 
and criminal classes in the State institutions, and 
out of them, and which will undouhtedh' influence 
for good all future generations. This work is on 
much the same plan that was originally thought 
out and organized hy Miss Louisa Lee Schuyler, of 
New York, the great-grand-daughter of General 
Philip Schm^ler whose noble devotion to his Com- 
mander-in-chief is memorable daring those days in 
Morristown. So we see how the old life of the 
Eevolutionary period connects itself with the new 
life of progression. The principles then so nobly 
maintained take new forms in new projects. 

Everywhere, we find the old and tlie new com- 
bined, for even the streets bear the names, with 
those of Schuyler, Hamilton and Washington, of 
Farragut and Macculloch. In the Park there 
stands a granite shaft surmounted by a full length 
figure of a Morris County Volunteer, commemora- 
ting the lives of the noble men who fell in those 
hard- won fields, fighting to preserve the nationality 
which had been secured b}' their forefathers. Every- 
thing is significant of either noble deeds in the 
past or of lionored names of later day and of private 
citizens whose personal influence has added moral 
dignity to this City of many associations. 













WW 




'ill;- J^ r'\Mn '/ ^' 






George Washington. 47 



Among the first notable writing^s associated 
with Morristown are the letters of Washington 
written from the old Arnold Tavern, and from the 
Ford Mansion, during the two memorable winters 
of 1777 and of 1779-'80. These noble letters are 
acknowledged on all sides to have^ been supremely 
efficient in promoting our national independence, 
filled as they are with the personality of Washing- 
ton himself. They are very numerous. Many of 
them are published ; some are in our "Headquar- 
ters", and many still are scattered over the country, 
in the possession of individuals. All are interesting, 
and none appear to reveal what we would wish 
had not been known, as in the case of so many 
other published letters. 

Of the man himself, our authors speak, here 
and there, throughout this volume. It is certain 
that no name, no face or character is more familiar 
to us than that of Washington, and no name in 
history has received a greater tribute than to be 
called, as he was, by the nation, at the end of his 
very difficult career, the "Father of his Country." 

Here is Lafayette's first impression, as he at- 
tends a dinner in Philadelphia, given by Congress 
in honor of the Commander-in-Chief. He says : 



48 George Washington. 

^' Although surroiiiided by officers aud citizens, 
Washington was to be recognized at once by the 
majesty of his countenance and his figure." And 
this ig Lafayette's tribute to Washington, when 
the two men liave parted : " As a piivate soldier, 
he would ha\^e been tlie bravest ; as an obscure 
citizen, all his neighbors would have respected him. 
With a heart as just as his mind, he always judged 
himself as he judged circumstances. In creating 
him expressly for this revolution. Nature did honor 
to herself ; and to show the perfection of her work, 
she placed him in such a position that each quality 
must have failed, had it not been sustained by all 
the others." 

(Quoted by Bayard Tuckermau iu his ' Life of Lafayette.") 

A touching reminiscence is given by Miss J. J. 
Boudinot,* of a scene which occurred after the 
Revolutionary Wai", at the Washington mansion in 
Philadelphia, ''there being none but an intimate 
circle present, the conversation turned upon La- 
fayette, then a prisoner in Germany. Washington 
dwelt upon his sufferings, contrasting them with 
his former fortunes, and, speaking of his heroism 
in our cause, became greatly moved, tears coming 
to his eyes, and liis whole being apparently sha- 
ken." 

In the portrait of Washington which Chas- 
tellux gives us, occur these words : "His strong- 



New Jersey Scrap Book of Women Writere. Vol. L, p. 100. 



George Washington. 49 

est characteristic is the perfect union which reigns 
between the physical and moral qualities which 
compose the individual^ one alone will enable you 
to judge of all the rest. If you are presented with 
medals of Caesar, Trajan or Alexander, on examin- 
ing their features, you will still be led to ask what 
was their stature and the form of their persons ; 
but if you discover, in a heap of ruins, the head or 
the limb of an antique Apollo, be not anxious about 
the other parts, but rest assured that they all were 
conformable to those of a God. "'^ ^^ '^ This will 
be said of Washington, ' At the end of a long civil 
war, he had nothing tvith tvhich he could reproach 
himself y^ 

Thatcher, in his Military Journal, speaks of 
Washin.^ton as he appeared at a great entertain- 
ment given by General Knox, in celebration of the 
alliance with France: "His tall, noble stature 
and just proportions, his fine, cheerful counte- 
nance, simple and modest deportment, are all cal- 
culated to interest every beholder in his favor and 
to command veneration and respect. He is feared 
even when silent and beloved even while we are 
unconscious of the motive." 

M. Gerard, the first "Minister Plenipotentiary 
from his Most Christian Majesty, (Lpuis XVI.), to 
the United States of America", writes from the 
camp, (to which place he had come to consult 
General Washington respecting the operations of 



50 George Washington. 

Count d'Estaing's fleet), in a letter dated May 4, 
1779, to the Count de VergeuneSj as follows :* 

"J'ai eu plusieurs conversations avee M. le 
general Washington, dont quelques-uns ont dure 
trois heures. II m'est impossible d'en rendre un 
compte suivi ; mais j'aurai soinde faire usage dans 
mes lettres, selon que Toccasion s'en presentera, 
des luniieres que j'y ai puisees. Je me bornerai a 
dire que j'ai congu autant d'estime pour ce gene- 
ral, relativement a ses lumieres, a sa moderation, 
a son patriotism, et a sa vertu, que par rapport a 
ses talents militaires et aux services incalculables 
qu'il a rendu a sa patrie. 

"I have had several conversations with. Gene- 
ral Washington, some of which have continued for 
three hours. It is impossible for me to give a com- 
plete account of them ; but I shall take care to 
make use in my letters, as the occasion may present 
itself, of the fund of information which I have de- 
rived from them. I will now confine myself to 
saying, that I have conceived as much esteem for 
tliis general, relatively to his powers of mind, his 
moderation, his patriotism and his virtue, as for his 
military talents and for the incalculable services 
Avhich he has rendered to his country." 

We see the General in his evening dress of 
' ' black velvet, with knee and shoe buckles and a 

*The letter is published in full, in Henri Doniol's " Participation de 
la Fiance h I'i^tablissement des Etats-Uuis d'Am^rique," Tome IV., 
p. 183. 



George Washington. 51 

steel rapier ; his hair thickly powdered, drawn back 
from his forehead and gathered in a black silk bag 
adorned with a rosette" walking gracefully and 
with dignity through the figures of a quadrille. 
We see him devoted to his wife and courteous to 
every woman, high and low. Greene writes from 
the Headquarters : " Mrs. Washington is extremely 
fond of the General and he of her ; they are happy 
in each other." We see him, with his tender sym- 
pathy among the soldiers and so find the key to the 
wonderful devotion of the soldiers to their chief, 
and his influence over them. As an old soldier tells 
the story to the Rev. 0. L. Kirtland : "There 
w^as a time when all our rations were but a single 
gill of ivheat a day. Washington used to come 
round and look into our tents, and he looked so 
kind and he said so tenderly, ' Men, can you bear 
it?' 'Yes, General, yes, we can,' was the reply ; 
'if you wish us to act give us the word and we are 
ready ! ' " Many were the letters he wrote in their 
behalf to Congress, by which body the soldiers' in- 
terests were neglected, and to Lord Howe in New 
York, because of his cruelty to the prisoners in his 
power. 

Another key we have to his calm and self- 
reliant bearing, even in his darkest hours, so that, 
says Tuttle, " there seemed to be something about 
this man, which inspired his enemies, even when 
victorious, with dread." It is expressed in a letter 



52 George Washiyigtoii. 

of Washington when heartsick at the round of mis- 
fortunes at the outset of the Revolution, and after 
the capture of Fort Washington by the enemy. 
He writes : '^It almost overcomes me to reflect 
that a brother's sword has been sheathed in a 
brother's breast and that the once happy and peace- 
ful plains of America are either to be drenched in 
blood or* inhabited with slaves. Sad alternative ! 
But can a virtuous man hesitate in his choice ?" 

(From " The Writings of George Washington," by Jared Sparks.) 

A touching letter is written on the 8th of Jan- 
uary, 1780, from the Ford Mansion, to the Morris 
County authorities, about the hungry, destitute 
soldiers, to which he receives at once so warm and 
generous a response that he writes again: ''The 
exertions of the magistrates and inhabitants of the 
State were great and cheerful for our relief." 

(Quoted from Sparks.) 

Though a warm Episcopalian, his broad Chris- 
tian feeling is shown when he says : "Being no 
bigot, myself, I am disposed to indulge the profes- 
sors of Christianity in the Church with tliat road 
to heaven which to them shall seem the most di- 
rect, the plainest and easiest and least liable to ob- 
jections." 

( Quoted from Sparks. ) 

And again, in reply to the Address of the 
Clergy of different denominations, in and about 
Philadelphia: "Believing as I do, tliat Religion 
and Morality are the esse)itial pillars of society, I 



George Washington. 53 

view with unspeakable pleasure, that harmony and 
brotherly love which characterize the clergy of 
different denominations, as well in this, as in 
other parts of the United States, exhibiting to the 
world a new and interesting spectacle, at once the 
pride of our Country and the surest basis of univer- 
sal harmony." 

(Quoted by Dr. Tuttle from Dr. Green's Autobiography.) 

What man, after arriving at such a height of 
power and influence over men, has been able to 
take up, with content again, his life of a country 
gentleman ? Washington expresses this in his re- 
ply to a letter from Judge Elisha Boudiuot, con- 
gratulating him, as he says, "on the final accom- 
plishment of our most sanguine hopes", adding : 
"The thought that your Excellency has survived 
the contest adds a pleasure to the enjoyment that 
no other event could possibly give." The letter,^ 
in reply, is dated "Newburg, May 10th, 1783", and 
is now in possession of the Boudiuot family. In it, 
Washington says : "I candidly confess, I cannot 
be indifferent to the favorable sentiment which you 
mention my fellow citizens entertain of my exer- 
tions in their service. The accomplishment of the 
great object which we had in view, in so short a 
time, and under such propitious circumstances, 
must. I am confident, fill every bosom with the 
purest joy ; and for my own part I will not strive 



*Published for the first time, this year, by Miss J. J. Boudinot in 
"New Jersey Scrap Book of Women Writers" — vol. I, p. 108. 



64 George Washington. 

to conceal the pleasure I already anticipate from 
my approaching? retirement to the placid walks of 
domestic life. Having no rewards to ask for my 
self, if I have been so happy as to obtain the appro- 
bation of my countrymen, I shall be satisfied. But 
it still rests with them to complete my wishes, by 
adopting such a system of policy, as will ensure the 
future reputation, tranquility, happiness and glory 
of this extensive empire ; to which I am much as- 
sured nothing can contribute so much as an invio- 
lable adherence to the principles of the union and a 
fixed resolution of building the national faith on the 
basis of public justice — without which all that has 
been done and suffered is in vain — to effect which 
therefore, the abilities of every true patriot ought 
to be exerted with the greatest zeal and assiduity. '^ 
Wonderfully appropriate were the last words 
that fell from the lips of Washington: " It is 
well." Of him it may be said as of no other, in 
the words of Henry Lee, in his Eulogy of Decem- 
ber 2r)th, 1799 : "To the memory of the man, first 
in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his 
countrymen." 










p, ^ 



POETS. 



asailliam antr Stepijen Van H. ^^ater^on, 



A curious circumstance surrounds the poetic 
work of the twin Paterson brothers — WiUiam and 
Stephen Van Eensselaer Paterson, who were born 
at Perth Amboy May 31, 1817 — and gives it a unique 
interest apart from its especial merits. The survi- 
vor of the two brothers describes, in the short and 
highly interesting introduction to their poems, pub- 
lished in 1882 and called ^' Poems of Twin Gradu- 
ates of fche College of New Jersey ", the dual spe- 
cies of psychology which was something of a cu- 
riosity because outside of common experience. The 
influence of the mystic tie, whatever it was or may 
have been, remained till nature loosed, as it had 
woven, the bond. 

Stephen Van Rensselaer Paterson died in 1872. 



58 Poets. 

He was twice appointed Surveyor-General of the 
Board of Proprietors of East New Jersey. His 
tastes being literary and artistic in character, in 
1850 he published a small booklet of poems, parts of 
Tvhich were transferred to the volume of the twins. 
As a specimen of his verse, some lines entitled '^ The 
Moss Eose ", from the German of Krummacher, are 
given. In the Class Record of 1885, it is stated 
that Longfellow, who was ignorant of the name of 
the writer, regarded this translation as the finest of 
any of the German poet, made in the English lan- 
guage. 

THE MOSS EOSE. 

FROM THE GERMAN OF KRUMMACHER. 

The Angel of the Flowers, in keeping 

His watch beneath the rose-tree's shade, 
Filled with the rich perfume, fell sleeping, 

Among the winds that round him played. 
His was the task to feed the roses 

With drops distilled of early light. 
When Nature from her work reposes. 

And all things kiss the brow of Night. 

And as he woke from sleep refreshing, 

Pleased with the rose-tree's grateful shade, 
He breathed for her a silent blessing, 

And to the modest flower thus said : 
*' Ask : I will give thee of my treasure. 

And it shall be thy virgin dower. 
In meet return for all the pleasure 

Thou hast bestowed on me this hour." 



Poets. 59 

^' Give me some newer charm." He listened, 

A moment wondering as in loss, 
Then, as his eye with softness glistened, 

He plucked a simple tuft of moss. 
And in a wreath its verdure twining. 

He wove it round the blossom fair. 
And now behold the Moss-Eose shining 

Loveliest of all her sisters there. 

Although Judge William Paterson was born in 
Perth Amboy and now resides there, his associa- 
tions with Morristown, as related in a letter under 
his signature, are those of early boyhood passed on 
the farm, now occupied by Mrs. Howland. ^^Mor- 
ristown was then but a village hamlet," he says, 
and 'Hhe old Academy and the ' Meetin' House ' on 
the village green were the only places in which ser- 
vices were held." Still, we gather, that at Morris- 
town the two poets received their ''scholastic and 
agricultural training." Here, too, was laid the 
foundation of their "political and religious faith," 
the latter under the administration of Albert Barnes, 
and, what may be a noted event in their lives, they 
heard Mr. Barnes preach the sermon on the " Way 
of Salvation," which caused the division of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

Judge Paterson is named for his distinguished 
grandfather. Governor William Paterson, who oc- 
cupied, among other high positions, that of Attor- 
ney-General of New Jersey during the Eevolution, 



60 Poets. 

as well as Governor of the State, and of whom it 
has been said that " to him, with two others, the 
Eepublic is indebted mainly for an admirable gov- 
ernment." He followed in the traditional profes- 
sional, as in the collegiate line, becoming a lawyer, 
and he has filled responsible positions. At an early 
age, he became a Legislator, was Secretary of the 
Constitutional Convention of ISli, as his ancestor 
had been, in 1776 ; was appointed on several State 
Tax Commissions ; was Mayor of Perth Amboy for 
ten years, at different periods from lSdt6 to 1878, 
and, in 1882, was made Lay Judge of the Court of 
Errors and Appeals of the State. Thus his work 
has been mostly legal and jDolitical, save, when he 
has made dashes into the more purely literary fields, 
rather for recreation from the dry details of practi- 
cal work. 

More than once has Judge Paterson told to 
amused and interested audiences in Morristown his 
recollections of boyhood and youth spent here. 
Notably, many remember his recent graphic address 
on the occasion of the Centennial of the Morris- 
town Academy. 

In 1888, our author pubhshed a valuable ''Bi- 
ography of the Class of 1835 of Princeton College," 
the class in which he graduated. The ''Poems" 
were published in 1882. Looking through the lat- 
ter volume, which contains many treasures, we won- 
der how some of the poems — written as they were 



Poets. 61 

under the influence of a higher inspiration than 
ordinary rhythmic influences — should not earher 
have found their way, in book form, from the 
writer's secret drawers to the readers of the out- 
side world. Several of these poems are connected 
with experiences and memories of Academic days- 
in Princeton, and among them all we would men- 
tion "The Close of the Centennial ;" '' Living on a 
Farm," which refers to Mrs. Howland's farm, long 
the poet's home in boyhood; "14th February, 
1877;" ''The Hickory Tree," and "Polly," in 
which the writer has caught wonderfully the bright, 
playful spirit of the child. We have selected to 
open this book a few verses from the poem " Mor- 
ristown," a pictorial reminiscence. 

In an address given before the New York Ge- 
nealogical and Biographical Society, in February, 
1892, on the life and public services of Governor 
WiUiam Paterson, Judge Paterson pays a beautiful 
tribute to Ireland, the land of his ancestors, in the 
following words : 

"Irish Nationality is no empty dream ; it goes 
back more than two thousand years, is as old as 
Christianity, and is attested by the existence of 
towers and monuments, giving evidence of greater 
antiquity than is to be found in the annals of any 
other country in all Europe. For centuries, Ireland 
sent missionaries of learning throughout the conti- 
nent to herald the advent of civilization and stay 



62 Poets. 

the advance of barbarism, and her story is one run- 
ning over with great deeds and glorious memories, 
with associations of poetry and art and bards, and 
a civihzation, ante-dating that of ahiiost any other 
Christian community. It cannot be claimed that 
the rude exploits of her early inhabitants are clas- 
sic in story or in song. They acquired no territory ; 
their island domain is but a speck of green verdure 
amid the waste of ocean waters, and the flash of an 
electric light, located on the hills where stood the 
ancient psaltery, could be sent throughout its length 
and breadth. They conquered no worlds. No man- 
ifest destiny led them to seek for wealth, applause 
or gain, be^^ond the limits of their narrow bounds. 
They did not so much as pass over the seas that 
Tvash their either shore. But yet in the absence of 
all the achievements that can gratify ambition, 
with no record of pomp or pageantry or power, her 
people bear a character more like a dream of fancy 
than a thing of real life, and to-day they stand as 
remnants of national greatness, though you may 
look in vain in their annals or traditions for any evi- 
dence of usurpation or of subjugation by sceptre or 
by sword." 



Poets. 63 



Mrs. Kinney, the mother of the poet, Edmund 
Clarence Stedman, and daughter of David L. Dodge 
of New York City, was for several years a resident 
of Morristown, and will long be remembered with 
interest and affection by her many friends. Her 
husband, Mr. William Burnet Kinney, not only re- 
sided here in later years, but was born at Speed- 
well, then a suburb of Morristown, and passed a 
part of his early boyhood there. To him we shall 
refer, in the grouping of Editors and Orators. 

Mr. Kinney was a brilliant literary man and 
about this home in Morristown unusual talent and 
genius naturally grouped themselves. To it came 
and went the poet Stedman ; in the group, we find 
two gifted women, daughters of Mrs. Kinney, and 
later on, the same genius developing itself in the 
son of one of these, the boy Easton, of the third 
generation. 

Mrs. Kinney published in 1855, ^'Felicita, a 
Metrical Eomance ; " a volume of "Poems " in 1867; 
and, a few years later, a stirrin^^ drama, a tragedy 
in blank verse, entitled "Bianco Cappello." This 
tragedy is founded upon Italian history and was 
written during her residence abroad in 1873. While 
abroad, Mrs. Kinney's letters to The Neivark Daily 



64 Poets. 

Advertiser gave her a wide reputation and were 
largely re-copied in London and Edinburgh jour- 
nals from copies in the New York papers. 

Among the ^' Poems," the one ''To an Italian 
Beggar Boy " is perhaps most highly spoken of and 
has been chosen by Mr. Stedman to represent his 
mother in the "Library of American Literature." 
A favorite also is the ''Ode to the Sea." Both 
pieces are strong and dramatic. The poem on 
" The Flowers " has been translated into three lan- 
guages. It opens : 

"Where'er earth's soil is by the feet 

Of unseen angels trod, 
The joyous flowers spring up to greet 

These messengers of God." 

Mrs. Kinney's sonnets are peculiarly good. 
Her sonnet on "Moonlight in Italy," which we give 
to represent her, was written at ten o'clock at night 
in Italy by moonlight, and has been much praised. 
Mr. Kingston James, the English translator of 
Tasso, repeated it once at a dinner table, as a sam- 
ple of "in what consisted a true sonnet." 

MOONLIGHT IN ITALY. 

There's not a breath the dewy leaves to stir ; 

There's not a cloud to spot the sapphire sky ; 
All nature seems a silent worshipper : 



Poets. 05 

While saintly Dian^ with great, argent eye, 
Looks down as lucid from the depths on high, 

As she to earth were Heaven's interpreter : 
Each twinkling little star shrinks back, too shy, 

Its lesser glory to obtrude by her 
Who fills the concave and the world with light ; 

And ah ! the human spirit must unite 
In such a harmony of silent lays, 

Or be the only discord in this night, 
Which seems to pause for vocal lips to raise 

The sense of worship into uttered praise. 



^lexantier llelson iSa^ton, 



In the third generation in the line of Mrs. Kin- 
ney, appears a boy, now seventeen years of age, of 
unusual promise as a poet — Alexander Nelson Eas- 
ton, grandson of William Burnet and Elizabeth C, 
Kinney. He has written and published several 
poems. He took the $50 prize offered by the Mail 
and Express for the best poem on a Eevolutionary 
incident, written by a child of about twelve years. 
It was entitled "Mad Anthony's Charge." 

Young Easton was born in Morristown, and 



^6 Poets. 

spent his early years in this place, in the house on 
the corner of MaccuUoch Avenue and Perry Street, 
belonging to Mrs. Brinley. He began to write at 
eight years when a little prose piece called '^ The 
Council of the Stars, " found its way into print, out 
in California. His next was in verse, written at 
ten years on ''The Oak." That was also published 
and copied. A' 'Ballad '"followed, and "A Scottish 
Battle Song," written in dialect, which was pub- 
lished also. Then came the prize poem, "Mad 
Anthony's Charge," above referred to. He has 
composed two stories since, one of which, "Ben's 
Christmas Present," has been accepted by the New 
York World and is to appear with a sketch of this 
young writer, in their Christmas number. At 
twelve years, he wrote a moDody on "The Burial 
of Brian Boru," which is given below. 

The literary efforts of Easton, so far, have been 
spontaneous and spasmodic, but contain certain 
promise for the future. After studying for some 
time at the Morristown Academy, Easton went as 
a student to the Borden town Military Institute 
from which he has graduated and has now passed 
on to Princeton College. At Bordentown he won 
golden opinions, and gave the prize essay at the 
June Commencement. This was an oration of con- 
siderable importance on "The Value of Sacrifice," 
but withal his gifts are essentially poetic. 



Poets. 67 

THE BURIAL OF BEIAN BOEU. 

Slowly around the new-made grave 

Gathers the mourner throng ; 
Women and children, chieftains brave, 

Numb'ring their hundreds strong. 

Glitter beneath the sun's bright ray 

Helmet and axe and spear ; 
Sadness and sorrow reign to-day, 

Dark is the land and drear ! 

Yesterday leading his men to fight, 

Now lies he beneath their feet. 
Clad in his armor, strong and bright, 

'Tis his only winding sheet. 

Close to his grave stand his warriors grim. 

Bravest and best of his reign ; 
They, who through danger have oft followed him, 

Mourn the wild '^ Scourge of the Dane." 

Look ! from the throng with martial stride 

Steps an old chief of his clan. 
Pauses and halts at the deep grave's side, 

Halts as but warriors can. 

White is the hair beneath his cap. 
Withered the hand he holds on high ; 

Standing, beside the open gap, 
Speaks he without a pause or sigh. 



68 Poets. 

^^ Brian Boru the brave ! 

Brian Boru the bold ! 
Lay we thee in thy grave ; 

Deep is it, dark and cold. 

Bravest of ev'ry chief 

Erin has ever known ; 
Hurling the foes in grief, 

Fiercest of Danes o'erthrown. 

Youth and old age alike 
Found thee in war array ; 

Wielding the sword and pike, 
E'er in the thick o' the fray ! 

Erin is freed and blest. 

Freed by thy mighty arm ; 

Well hast thou earned thy rest, 
Take it ! secure from harm. 

Friend of our hearts ! Our king ! 

Generous, kind and true ! 
Out let our praises fling — 

Shout we for Brian Bo7m.^^ 

Bursts the wild song from a thousand throats, 
Sounding through wood and plain, 

While the mountains echo the dying notes, 
Kinging them out again. 



Poets. 69 



As a poet, we represent Bret Harte by his 
^' Plain Language from Truthful James," better 
known as "The Heathen Chinee." The main ref- 
erence to his writings follows, in the next classifi- 
cation of Novelists and Story Writers. 

PLAIN LANGUAGE FEOM TKUTHFUL JAMES, 



TABLE MOUNTAIN, 1870. 

Which I wish to remark, — 

And my language is plain, — 
That for ways that are dark. 

And for tricks that are vain. 
The heathen Chinee is peculiar. 

Which the same I would rise to explain. 

« 

Ah Sin was his name ; 

And I shall not deny 
In regard to the same 

What that name might imply. 
But his smile it was pensive and child-like 

As I frequent remarked to Bill Nye. 



70 Poets. 

It was August the third ; 

And quite soft was the skies ; 
Which it might be inferred 

That Ah Sin was hkewise ; 
Yet he played it that day upon William 

And me in a way I despise. 

Which we had a small game, 

And Ah Sin took a hand : 
It was Euchre. The same 

He did not understand ; 
But he smiled as he sat by the table, 

With the smile that was child-like and bland. 

Yet the cards they were stocked 

In a way that I grieve, 
And my feelings were shocked 

At the state of Nye's sleeve : 
Which was stuffed full of aces and bowers, 

And the same with intent to deceive. 

But the hands that were played 

By that heathen Chinee, 
And the points that he made. 

Were quite frightful to see, — 
Till at last he put down a riglit bower. 

Which the same Nye had dealt unto me. 

Then I looked up at Nye, 

And he gazed upon me ; 
And he rose with a sigh. 
And said, '^ Can this be ? 
We are ruined by Chinese cheap labor, " — 

And he went for that heathen Chinee. 



Poets. n 

In the scene that ensued 

I did not take a hand, 
But the floor it was strewed 

Like the leaves on the strand 
With the cards that Ah Sin had been hiding, 

In the game ''he did not understand. " 

In his sleeves, which were long, 

He had twenty-four packs, — 
Which was coming it strong, 

Yet I state but the facts ; 
And we found on his nails, which were taper. 

What is frequent in tapers — that's wax. 

Which is why I remark. 

And my language is plain. 
That for ways that are dark. 

And for tricks that are vain^ 
The heathen Chinee is peculiar, — 

Which the same I am free to maintain. 



Mx^. M. Virginia Bonagi)^ IKcffilurg, 



Mrs. McClurg, the niece of our honored towns- 
man, Mr. Wm. L. King, is better known to us by 
her maiden name of M. Virginia Donaghe. Al- 
though endowed with varied gifts, having been 



12 Poets. 

editor, newspaper correspondent, story- writer, bio- 
grapher and local historian, her talent is essentially 
poetic, therefore we place her among our poets. 

A proud moment of Mrs. McClurg's life was, 
w^hen a child, she received four dollars and a half 
from Hearth and Home for a story called ^' How- 
Did it Happen," written in the garret, the author 
tells us, without the knowledge of any one. In 
1885, she went into the Indian country to explore 
the cliff -dwellings of Mancos Canon, in the reserva- 
tion of the Southern Utes. They were only known 
through meagre accounts in the official government 
reports, and Miss Donaghe was the first woman 
who ever visited them, so far as known. On this 
occasion, she had an escort of United States troops 
and spent a few days there. She, however, made 
a second visit, fully provided for a month's trip, 
the result of w^hich was a series of archaeological 
sketches, contributed to a prominent paper, the 
Great Divide^ under the title of " Cliff -Climbing in 
Colorado. " These ten papers gave to Miss Donaghe 
a reputation in the West as an archaeologist. 

In 1886, she published her first book, "Pic- 
turesque Colorado," also a popular sonnet called 
'' The Mountain of the Holy Cross." In 1887, the 
Century published a ''Sonnet on Helen Hunt's 
Grave," with a picture of the grave. Then appear- 
ed a book on "Picturesque Utah," making one of 
a group with "Picturesque Colorado" and "Colo- 



Poets. 73 

rado Favorites." The last is made up of six poems 
on Colorado flowers, illustrated by water colors of 
the blossoms, by Alice Stewart, and was the first 
book published. 

The author was married to Mr. Gilbert Mc- 
Clurg of Chicago, one of the family of the publish- 
ing house of that name, in Morristown, on June 
13th, 1889. Since then Mrs. McClurg has been 
both editor and newspaper correspondent, and, 
within the last two years, a valuable assistant to 
her husband in the preparation of his department 
of the official history of Colorado, which included 
several county histories. 

A late poem of Mrs. McClurg was published 
in the Banner^ of Morristown, Dec. 24th, 1891, writ- 
ten for the occasion of Mr. William L. King's 85th 
Thanksgiving Day, and based on the Oriental salu- 
tation, ^'0 King ! Live forever." Among her wri- 
tings are also two articles on the Washington Head- 
quarters of Morristown ; being ^^ quotations, com- 
ments and descriptions on two Order Books of the 
Eevolution, daily records of life in camp and at 
Headquarters, in the year 1780." 

The "Seven Sonnets of Sculpture" came out in 
1889 and 1890. This book was widely and favorably 
noticed by some of the largest and most important 
journals. Says the writer in the Chicago Daily 
News : "It was a happy inspiration that led Mrs. 
McClurg to the idea realized in the publication of 



74: Poets. 

her latest volume, ' Seven Sonnets of Sculpture^ 
The v^ork is artistic from cover to cover, but the 
conception of equipping each one of the stanzas it 
contains with a photograph of the piece of sculpture 
which suggested it, was unique." The author says^ 
in her dedication, that seven was a Hebrew symbol 
of perfection. The sonnet we select from these, to 
represent Mrs. McClurg, is ^'The Questioner of the 
Sphinx ". This sonnet was written from the im- 
pression received from Elihu Vedder's engraving of 
the Sphinx and the artist expressed, in a letter tO' 
the author, his appreciation of the fidelity of the in- 
terpretation in verse of his picture. His criticism 
is perhaps the best that could be given. 

^'I think it," he wrote, '^good and strong and 
shall treasure it among the few good things that 
have been suggested by my work. My idea in the 
Sphinx was the hopelessness of man before the cold 
immutable laws of nature. Could the Sphinx 
speak, I am sure its words w^ould be, 4ook within,' 
for to his working brain and beating heart man 
must look for the solution of the great problem." 

THE QUESTIONER OF THE SPHINX. 

(suggested by elihu vedder's picture.) 

Behold me ! with swift foot across the land, 
While desert winds are sleeping, I am come 
To wrest a secret from thee ; thou, dumb^ 
And careless of my puny lip's command. 



Poets. Y5 

Cold orbs ! mine eyes a weary world have scanned, 

Slow ear ! in mine rings ever a vexed hnm 

Of sobs and strife. Of joy mine earthly sum 

Is buried as thy form in burning sand. 

The wisdom of the nations thou hast heard ; 

The circling courses of the stars hast known. 

Awake ! Thrill ! By my feverish presence stirred, 

Open thy lips to still my human moan, 

Breathe forth one glorious and mysterious word, 

Though I should stand, in turn, transfixed, — a stone ! 



orijarltou E. Hetoi^, HE, H. 



A sketch of Dr. Lewis will be found under the 
grouping of Lexicographer. 

The poem from which we select (reluctantly 
we take a part instead of the whole, for lack of 
space), is an embodiment of the story ta.ken from 
Theodoret. The poet has found in the beautiful 
tradition, meagre though it is, a lovely theme for 
his divine song of spiritual love and Christian mar- 
tyrdom. 

The following is the translation of the Creek 
passage which heads the poem : 



76 Poets. 

"A certain Telemachus embraced the self-sacri- 
ficing life of a monk, and, to cany out tiiis plan, 
went to Eome, where he arrived during the abomi- 
nable shows of gladiators. He went down into the 
arena, and strove to stop the conflicts of the armed 
combatants. But the spectators of the bloody 
games were indignant, and the gladiators them- 
selves, full of the spirit of battle, slew the apostle 
of peace. When the great Emperor learned the 
facts he enrolled Telemachus in the noble army of 
martyrs, and yjut an end to the murderous shows." 
The odor et. Eccl. Hist. v. 26. 

The scene is Eome, — the place the Coliseum. 
It is the time of the games. There are the crowds 
of eager people ; the Emperor Honorius ; the horri- 
ble Stilicho. Lowly and beautiful in his great love 
for Christ, Telemachus follows onward to the 
Coliseum to meet his sorrowful fate ; holding in 
his voice the power that "stilled the fire and dulled 
the sword and stopped the crushing wine-press." 
He followed, silently, consecrated and alone, to 
"do the will of God." 

TELEMACHUS. 

I mused on Claudian's tinseled eulogies. 
And turned to seek in other dusty tomes, 
Through the wild waste of those degenerate days, 
Some living word, some utterance of the heart : 
Till as when one lone peak of Jura flames 



Poets. 77 

With sudden sunbeams breaking through the mist, 

So from the dull page of Theodoret 

A flash of splendor rends the clouds of life, 

And bares to view the awful throne of love. 

The bishop's tale is meagre, but as leaven, 

It works in thoughts that rise and fill the soul. 

■vf -;v %r ^r -Jf -X- 

He felt the soil, long drenched with martyr's bloody 
Send healing tlirough his feet to all his frame. 
He drank the air that trembled with the joys 
Of opening Paradise, and bared his soul 
To spirits whispering, '' Come with us to-day ! " 
The longings of his life were satisfied, 
He stood at last in Rome, Christ's Capital, 
The gate of heaven and not the mouth of hell. 

Suddenly, rudely, comes disastrous change. 

He starts and gazes, as the glory of the saints 

Fades round him and the angel songs are stilled : 

A world of hatred hides the throne of love ; 

Hell opens in the gleam of myriad eyes 

Hungry for slaughter, in a hush that tells 

How in each heart a tiger pants for blood. 

Into the vast arena fides a band 

Of Goths, the prisoners of Pollentia, — 

Freemen, the dread of Rome, but yesterday, 

Now doomed as slaves to wield those terrible arms 

In mutual murder, kill and die, amid 

The exultation of their nation's foes. 

Pausing before the throne, with well-taught lips 

They utter words they know not ; but Rome hears ; 

"Caesar, we greet thee who are now to die ! " 



Y8 • Poets. 

Then part and line the hsts ; the trumpet blares 
For the onset, sword and javelin gleam, and all 
Is clash of smitten shields and glitter of arms. 

Without the tumult, one of mighty limb 

And towering frame stands moveless ; never yet 

A nobler captive had made sport for Rome. 

Throngs w^atcli that eye of Mars, Apollo's grace. 

The thews of Hercules, in cruel hope 

That ten may fall before him ere he falls. 

They bid him charge ; he moves not ; shield and 

sword 
Sink to his feet ; his eyes are filled with light 
That is not of the battle. Three draw near 
Whose valor or despair has cut a path 
Through the thick mass of combat, and tlieir 

swords 
Reeking with carnage, seek a victim new 
The glory of wdiose death may win them grace 
With that fierce multitude. Telemachus 
Gazes, and half the horror turns to joy 
As the fair Goth undaunted bares his breast 
Before the butchers, and aw^aits the blow 
With peaceful brow, a firm and tender lip 
Quivering as with a breath of inward prayer, 
And hands that move as mindful of the cross. 
And wuth a mighty cry, " Christ ! he is thine ! 
He is my brother ! Help ! " The monk leaps forth, 
Gathers in hands unarmed the points of steel, 
Throws back the startled w^arriors, and connnands, 
''In Christ's name, hold ! Ye people of Rome give 

ear ! 
God will have mercy and not sacrifice. 



Poets. 7 

He who was silent, scourged at Pilate's bar, 

And smitten again in those he died to save, 

Is silent now in his great oracles. 

The throne of Constantine and Peter's chair. 

Speaks thus through me : — ' In Eome, my capital, 

Let love be Lord, and close the mouth of hell. 

I will have mercy and not sacrifice.' " 

The slaughter paused, he ceased, and all was still, 
But bafded myriads with their cruel thumbs 
Point earthward, and the bloody three advance : 
Their swords meet in his heart. Honorius 
Cries " Save," — too late, he is already safe, — 
And turns, with tears like Peter's, to proclaim, 
The festival dissolved : nor from that hour 
Ever again did Eome, Christ's Capital, 
Make holiday with blood, but hand in hand 
The throne of Constantine and Peter's chair 
Honored the martyr — Saint Telemachus, 
And love was Lord and closed the mouth of heU. 



ilrli.6^ 33mma Jf. 1a, ©ampbell. 



In our midst is a quiet, gentle woman who 
passes in and out among us without noise or osten- 



80 ' Poets. 

tation. Yet upou her has fallen the great honor of 
being the author of an immortal hymn. 

In the Canada Presbyterian of Feb. 9th, 1887, 
appeared an article entitled "A Great Modern 
Hymn." Also, it is said, that in a volume soon to 
be published on "The Great Hymns of the Church'^ 
will appear a paper on " Jesus of Nazareth Passeth 
By." From the first named, we cannot do better 
than quote : 

'^As to the origin of the hymn — the circum- 
stances of its birth — we have to invite the reader 
to go back some twenty-three years, to the Spring 
of 1864 — to a great season of religious awakening 
in the city of Newark, N. J. The streets were 
crowded from day to day and the largest churches 
were too small to contain the growing numbers. 
Among those most deeply moved by the impressive 
scenes and services was a young girl, a Sabbath 
School teacher, one who for the first time realized 
the powers of the world to come, and the grandnesa 
of the great salvation. As descriptive of what was 
passing around her but with no desire for publicity, 
still, with the great desire of reaching some soul 
unsaved, especially among her youthful charge, 
she wrote the lines beginning with, ' What means 
this eager, anxious throng ? ' " 

The hymn was first published under the signa- 
ture '^ Eta" the author having sometimes appended 
to her writings the Greek letter, using that charac- 



Poets. 81 

ter instead of her English name. We quote again 
from the same source : '^Soon it rose into popu- 
larity and it is spreading still, not only in the Eng- 
lish language, but in other languages — even the 
languages of India — (think of a recent account of 
an assembly of 500 Hindus enthusiastically using 
this hymn in the Mahrati and the Syrian children 
singing it in their own vernacular) — as the author 
thinks of all these things, she can only say with a 
thankful and an adoring heart : ' It is the Lord's 
doing and it is marvellous in mine eyes ! ' " 

Miss Campbell has also written many other 
poems of beauty and articles in prose, which how- 
ever, are all so eclipsed by this "Great Hymn" 
that perhaps they are not known or noticed as they 
otherwise would be. One in particular, we would 
mention, "A New Year Thought " published De- 
cember, 1888, and another beautiful hymn, written 
by request for the Centeunial Celebration of the 
First Presbyterian Church in Octobei', 1891, and 
which was read on that occasion by Mr. James 
Duryee Stevenson. 

Miss Campbell belongs also in the group of 
Novelists and Story -Writers. She has written a 
number of books for the young, among which are 
" Green Pastures for Christ's Little Ones " ; " Paul 
Preston/' and "Better than Rubies." 



S2 Poets. 

'^ JESUS OF NAZAEETH PASSETH BY." 

What means this eager, anxious throng, 
Pressing our busy streets along, 
These wondrous gatherings day by day. 
What means this strange commotion, pray ? 
Voices in accents hushed reply 

"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ! " 

E'en children feel the potent spell, 
And haste their new-found joy to tell ; 
In crowds they to the place repair 
Where Christians daily bow in prayer. 
Hosannas mingle with the cry 

''Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ! " 

Who is this Jesus ? Why should he 
The city move so miglitily ? 
A passing stranger, has He skill 
To charm the multitude at will? 
Again the stirring tones reply 

''Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ! " 

Jesus ! 'tis He who once below 
Man's pathway trod mid pain and woe ; 
And burdened ones where'er He came 
Brought out their sick and deaf and lame. 
Blind men rejoiced to hear the cry 
" Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ! " 

Again he comes, from place to place 
His holy footprints we can trace. 



Poets. 83 

He pauses at our threshold — nay 
He enters,— condescends to stav ! 
Shall we not .s^ladly raise the cry — 
'^ Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ?" 

Bring out your sick and blind and lame, 
'Tis to restore them Jesus came. 
Compassion infinite you'll find. 
With boundless power in Him combined. 
Come quickly while salvation's nigh, 
"■Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ! " 

Ye sin-sick souls who feel your need, 
He comes to you, a friend indeed. 
Else from your weary, wakeful couch, 
Haste to secure His healing touch ; 
No longer sadly wait and sigh. — 

' ^ Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ! " 

Ho all ye heaw-laden. come ! 
Here's pardon, comfort, rest, a home ; 
Lost wanderer from a Father's face, 
Eeturn, accept his proffered grace. 
Ye tempted, there's a refuge nigh, 
"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ! " 

Ye who are buried in the grave 
Of sin, His power alone can save. 
His voice can bid yoQr dead souls live. 
True spirit-life and freedom give. 
Awake ! arise ! for strength apply, 
" Jesus of Nazareth passeth by ! " 



84 Poets. 

But if this call you still refuse 
And dare such wondrous love abuse, 
Soon will He sadly from you turn, 
Your bitter prayer in justice spurn. 
'^Too late ! too late ! " will be your cry, 
'^ Jesus of Nazareth has passed by ! " 



Mx^, atielaiiJe £?. i^urtlnj. 



Mrs. Buckley will appear again among Trans- 
lators. The following verses were inspired by a 
painting of Cornelia and the Gracchi : 

Purest pearls from the sea, 
Diamonds outshining the sun, 

Sapphires which vie with heaven, 
With pride to Cornelia are shown. 

Clasping her dark-eyed boys, 

Fairer could be no other, 
"These my jewels are " 

Said the noble Roman mother. 



Poets. 85 



Dr. Corniug, who, with his family^ was for 
some years a resident of Morris town and is now 
■abroad, is represented later in the volume, among 
the writers on Art. We give here his beautiful 
poem, ''The Ideal". 

THE IDEAL. 

Awake, asleep in dreams, amid the din of mortal 
striving, 

I feel thee ever near, vision of fancy's sweet con- 
triving : 

The setting sun and twilight glow 

Thou art the music sweet and low. 

When on the sands, at dead of night. 

Dark waves are breaking in their might, 

While, through the billowy crests, the wild winds 

roar. 
Thou art the gull who over all dost soar. 

Amid the storm and lightning flash. 
The pelting rain and thunder crash. 
When faces blanch, and none can will, 
'Thou, heavenly bow. art faithful still. 

'Tis not the kiss, the touch, the sigh. 
That bringeth love from earth to sky ; 
For motions strange about the heart 
Eeveal the inner nature of thy part. 



86 Poets. 

meb ©liber ffltaue, IB. IB., HiL. 23. 



Before coming to Morristown, in 1871, Dr. 
Crane's life had been a very active one, including 
extensive traveling in Turkey, Europe, Egypt and 
Palestine. Twice he had been a missionary in 
Turkey acquiring the Turkish language and doing 
efficient work there, first for five years, then for 
three. In the seven years interval of his return he 
accepted two pastorates in this country. 

On coming to Morristown, having resigned his 
ministerial charge at Carbondale, Pennsylvania, he 
devoted himself mainly to literary work, and with 
General H. B. Carrington wrote the '^Battles of 
the Eevolution " which has since become a stand- 
ard work. Nin3 years later as secretary of his 
college class, he prepared an exhaustive biographi- 
cal record of every member of the class. The book 
was a pioneer in this class of publications. 

In 1888, he published his translation of Virgil's 
^neid and the following year a small volume of 
poems entitled '' Mintoand Other Poems", in which 
the '^ Eock of the Passaic Falls " is conspicuous as 
relating to Washington and Lafayette ^^who, " 
says the poet, ^^ visited together these Falls while 
their troops were stationed at Totawa (as the spot 
was then called) in the Winter of 1780. The initials 



Foets. 87 

G. W. are still to be seen cut in the rock below the 
cataract. 

The Translation of VirgiVs ^neid, "literally, 
line by line into English Dactylic Hexameter, " is 
Dr. Crane's great work and has absorbed much of 
his time for years. It is a singular fact that, al- 
though for more than four hundred years the learn- 
ed have been giving to the English reader, through 
the press, specimen translations of this old classic, 
this is the first complete version in the original 
measure. 

In the very interesting preface, Dr. Crane gives 
a careful review of the translations of Yirgil, notic- 
ing the singular and severe prejudice that has al- 
ways debarred any desire to render this classic in 
the metre of the original^ and discussing the ad- 
vantage of translating in the style of verse chosen 
by the author himself. In fact, he tells us, Long- 
fellow had, from his own admirable translations, 
become thoroughly convinced of its utility, if not 
of its indispensability in giving the classic epics a 
fitting setting in English. 

The following is an extract taken from Book 
X., lines 814 to 842 of Dr. Crane's literal English 
translation of VirgiVs ^neicl, which describes the 
hand to hand contest of ^neas with the youth 
Lausus, who insists upon fighting ^neas in opposi- 
tion to his father's wishes and in the face of every 
effort made by JEneas to avoid the conflict : 



ss 



Poets. 



O 

< r 









o m 
I — I 

I— I 



a; 



13 






CO 



0) 

•^ CD 

o o 

CO ^ fl 

^ C3 

:3 TH CD 

Sh 0) ^ 



^ 0) 

ITU N 

r-; CD 

O CP 

CD r^ 

CO rj 

CO ;:^ 



o 


C/i 

1 — 1 


(—1 


2 


T— 1 


CD 


C/2 


S 


/D 


-^^ 


13 


.ii^ 




CO 


«4-H 




C/2 


CD 

O 

P. 


o 

CD 


>i 


r-t 


CO 


^ 


w 


o 


rq 


o 


o 


p 


zn 


^J 


o 


c^ 


ci 


w 


M 


CD 


r^ 




o 


P 

^ 


CD 




CO 


o 


4-3 




<D 


«w 






a 


• «v 






■4^ 









o 


J— 1 


4^ 




^ 


'S 


C/2 




H 


5 









C« 


?H 






O 


Q 




^ 



O) 



CD 



H-3 

O 
w 



o 

^ CD 

CD ^ 

bJD ^ 

?-i o 

J s 

CO c» 



CD 



o 






CO 

'p \ ^ 

3 :^ ^, 

C^ C3 j_i 



^s 



O r^ 



CD 

o 



CD 

^ g I 

c« C fl 

- CD 



I I 



&£ r^ «^ C^ 



y n-^ .^ 



CD 

^ ^^ 

J3 o f:3 

^ CD 

r^: CO 

be ^ 



c5 

g3 

c»~ 
CD 

CO 

c3 CD 



5 'S '33 

§ 8 1 

^ M .B 

^ C/) 



CD 



<D 






c» 



r-l 



CD 

4^ 

CD 



C^ 9. 



O 
O ^ 



;i:3 o "o -t^ 



o 

-4-=' 




r-^ r^ 



^ 2 

-i-3 r— H 



C^ 



C 



r^ CO 



o O 

CD 
C3 



f^ .s 



CD 



CD 
CD 

-1-3 



P. CD 

^ ^ .S ^ J 



hnco ;h F^Ti 12 4^^5 



Poets. ^ 89 






OH 

q cc ^ n 5::! H 



c^ ^ .23 - O 



C M 



g .o a :^ ^ ^ p - g ,^ § ^-^ - ;^ g & o 

i ^ f " s i 3 1^ 1 1 o s I g § 

I .3 "1 f, « 8 ^ ^ ^ -= ^ «= s s -^ S £ 



O xo o 

CO CO ^ 

QO 00 ^ 



90 Poets. 



Mr. Sutphen, who appears later as our Dra- 
matist, has published a number of beautiful poems, 
among them one of six lines in Scribiier^s Magazine 
for June, 1893. 

TO-MOREOW. 

Where the sea meets with the river 

She stands and looks out afar ; 
In her eyes a light that ever 

Changeth as doth a star, 
On her lips the sudden shiver 

Of waves on a hidden bar. 



Mx^ iMarj) Hee IBemare.^t. 



Mrs. Julia R. Cutler has kindly given us the 
folio wing monograph : 

^' In a memorial of the late Mrs. Mary Lee Dem- 
arest occurs the following passage : ' For two hun- 



Poets. 91 

dred and fifty years, the English readers of the Bi- 
ble were obliged to content themselves with the 
phrase, ' They seek a country '. It was not the 
whole thought. It was reserved for a corps of 
learned revisers to light upon the happy phrase, 
^ They are seeking a country of their own '. ' But 
a score of years before the wise grammarians reach- 
ed this line, a youthful poetess, seeing and greeting 
the Heavenly promise from afar, wrote simply and 
sweetly : 

'' 'I'll ne'er be fu' content, until mine een do see 
The shining gates o' Heaven, an' my ain countree\ 

' ' This youthful poetess, was Mary Lee, after- 
wards Mrs. T. F. C. Demarest. 

'' Before hm^ marriage, in 1870, she spent several 
years in Morristown and became identified with the 
place and its interests ; and there are many persons 
living here who remember her sweet face and gen- 
tle ways. , 

" A taste for the Scotch dialect is said to have 
been acquired from an old Scotch nurse who lived a 
long time in the family, when the children were 
young. The girl caught it so completely, that when 
deeply moved, she was wont to drop into it, for the 
more vigorous expression of her feelings. ' Some- 
how ', said she, ^ the Scotch is more homely, less for- 
mal to me '. Thus, in the poem alluded to, could 
the thoughts contained in it, have been expressed 
as beautifully and tenderly in the mother tongue ? 



92 Poets. 

"Again, there is a liitle poem in the same dia- 
lect, eniitied ' My Mitiier ', wliich appeals to every 
heart. Though many of her poems and prose wri- 
tings are of a devotional character, yet she had a 
keen sense also of the humorous side of life as tlie 
verses entitled ' Allen Graeme ' will testify. 

" Mrs. Deuiarest traveled extensively i-nrough- 
out our own country, and also abroad. Two vol- 
umes of her writings have been published — one en- 
titled 'Gathered Writings', a collection of short 
stories, fragments of foreign travel and reflections". 

MY AIN COUNTREE. 

I am far frae my hame an' I'm weary aftervvhiles. 
For the langed-for hame-bringing an' my Father's 

welcome smiles ; 
I'll ne'er be fu' content, until mine een do see, 
The shining gates o' heaven an' my ain countree. 
The earth is fleck'd wi' flow^ers, mony tinted fresh 

and gay, 
The birdies warble blithely, for my father made 

them sae ; 
But these sights an' these soun's will as naething 

be to me, 
When I hear the angels singing in my ain countree. 

I've His gude word o' promise that some gladsome 

day the King- 
To his ain royal palace His banished hame will 

bring ; 
Wi' een an' wi hearts running ovvre we shaU see 



Poets. 93 

The King in His beauty, in our ain countree. 

My sins hae been mony, an' my sorrows hae been 
sair, 

But there they'll never vex me, nor be remembered 
mair ; 

His bluid has made me white — His hand shall dry 
mine e'e. 

When he brings me hame at last, to mine ain coun- 
tree. 

Sae little noo I ken, o' yon blessed, bonnie place, 
I ainly ken its Hame, whaur we shall see His face ; 
It wud surely be eneuch forever mair to be 
In the glory o' His presence in our ain countree. 
Like a bairn to its mitlier, a wee birdie to its nest, 
I wad fain be ganging noo, unto my Saviour's 

breast, 
For He gathers in His bosom witless, worthless 

lambs like me. 
An' carries them Himsel', to His ain countree. 

He's faithfu' that has promised, He'll surely come 
again, 

He'll keep His tryst wi' me, at what hour I dinna 
ken ; 

But He bids me still to w^ait, an' ready aye to be 

To gang at ony moment to my ain countree. 

So I'm watching, aye, and singing o' my hame as I 
wait, 

For the soun'ing o' His footfa' this side thegowden 
gate, 

God gie His grace to ilk ane wha' listens noo to me, 

That we a' may gang in gladness to our ain coun- 
tree. 



94 Poets. 



We cannot do better than quote the words of 
Dr. Thomas Dunn EngHsh, the well-known author 
of '^Ben Bolt," now living in Newark, N. J.,— with 
regard to Mr. Keasbey. 

'^ Here, in Newark," says he, '' we have a law- 
yer of distinction, Anthony Q. Keasbey, who oc- 
casionally throws off some polished verses, as he 
excuses them, by w^ay of 'safety plugs for high 
mental pressure,' and these are always smooth and 
scholarly. They are mostly privately printed for 
the amusement of the i^oet and a few chosen 
friends. One of these, however, has such a vein of 
tenderness and so much heart music that it de- 
serves to become public property and to remain as 
much the favorite with others as it is with me." 
The poem referj-ed to is, "My Wife's Crutches." 

"Unquestionably," continues Dr. Euglish, 
"Mr. Keasbey stands well in his profession, and 
for years, under several Federal administrations, 
filled the office of United States District Attorney 
with credit to himself and advantage to the public ; 
but this little tender poem does more honor to his 
intellect than his legal acquirements, however emi- 
nent they may be, and gives him a still strouger 
claim to the regard of his many friends." 



Poets. 95 

Among Mr. Keasbey's published collected 
poems are "Palm Sunday," of which Mr. Stedman 
once said he had put it away among some fine 
hymns ; also '^May ", published in England and set 
to music by Faustina Hodges. These verses were 
inspired by the falling of the cherry blossoms on 
the grave of little May, and are most sweet and 
touching. One of the best is '^The Dirge for Old 
St. Stephen's", written while they were demolish- 
ing the church built on Mr. Keasbey's ground, 
where now a ''mart and home" have taken its 
place as was anticipated by, the poet. 

Mr. Keasbey has published numberless papers 
in prominent journals and magazines. Some of 
these are to be collected and published in book 
form. His address on "The Sun: How Man has 
Eegarded it in Different Ages ", was delivered be- 
fore the Brooklyn Historical Society. It is well 
worthy of preservation in more permanent form 
than that in which it appears at present ; also " The 
Sale of East New Jersey at Auction ", an address 
delivered February 1st, 1862, before the New Jer- 
sey Historical Society at Trenton, on the Bi-Cen- 
tennial of the Sale. This is full of interesting in- 
formation, told in a charming way and is valuable 
for reference. 

A booklet on Florida, " From the Hudson to the 
St. John's," describing a month's journey to Florida 
and the St. John's Eiver was published in 1875 ; 



96 Poets. 

also, more recently, another on '^ Isthmus Transit 
by CMriqui and Golfo Dulce." 

Below is the favorite of Dr. English among the 
Poems : 



MY WIFE'S CRUTCHES. 

^' Ye solemn, gaunt, ungainl}^ crutches, 

That serve her frame such slippery tricks. 

Were you within my lawful clutches, 
I'd fling you back in River Styx. 

Ye grew beside the Boat of Charon, 
In murky fens of Stygian gloom. 

Nor ever, like the rod of Aaron, 

Shall your grim spindles burst in bloom. 

Your reeds were tuned for groans rheumatic^ 
And croaking sighs from gouty man ; 

Nor e'er shall thrill with tones ecstatic. 
As did the pipes of ancient Pan. 

Avaunt you, then, ye helpers dismal ! 

Offend my eyes and ears no more ; 
Go stalking back to realms abysmal 

And guide tlie ghosts on Lethe's shore. 

But see ! while yet my words upbiaid them. 
Her crutches bud with blossoms fair. 

And Patience, Love and Faith have made them 
Than Aaron's rod, more rich and i-are. 



Poets. 97 

And hark ! from out their hollows slender, 
No dismal groans or sighs proceed, — 

But tones of joy more sweet and tender 

Than swelled from Pan's enchanted reed. 

Then stay ! your use her worth discloses. 

Your ghastly frames her worth transmutes, 

From withered sticks, to stems of roses — 
From creaking reeds, to magic flutes. 



imajnr EinDle)) i^offman JWiUer, 



Major Miller, a brother of our well-known 
townsman, Henry W. Miller, was among the first of 
the Yth Regiment of New York City, who answered 
the call of the government to march to Washington 
for the protection of the Capitol. He served in that 
regiment through the riots in New York, and after- 
wards joined a Colored Eegiment and was promoted 
to the rank of Major. He served in this position 
at Memphis and elsewhere through the South. In 
this campaign he lost his health and came home to 
die. He died in June, 1S(U, and was laid in old St. 
Peter's church vard. 



98 Poets. 

Mr. Miller was a man of brilliant mind and un- 
usual genius. His fugitive poems are very beauti- 
ful. They v^ere published in various journals of the 
time, and one we will add to this short sketch of his 
brief but valuable life, " The Skater's Song ", full of 
spirit and dash, and gay with the heart of youth. 

THE SKATEE'S SONG, BY MOONLIGHT. 

Come away, from your blazing hearths ! 

Come away, in the gleaming night, 
Where the radiant sky is peering down 

With a million eyes of light I 
Heigho ! for the glancing ice, 

For the realm of the old Frost King I 
We'll shake the chain of the bounding stream 
Till all its fetters ring I 

Then away'! my boys, away ! 
Far over the ice we'll sweep. 
And wake the slumbering echo's voice 
From the gloom of its winter sleep ! 

Come away, from your cheerless books ! 

Come away, in the clear, cold air ! 
And read in the deeps of the starry night 

God's endless volume there. 
Ho ! now we're flashing along, 

At the snow-flakes drifting rate ! 
Did ever anything stir the pulse 

Like a glimmering moonlight skate ! 
Then away ! my boys, away ! 
Far over the ice we'fl sweep, 
And wake the slumbering echo's voice 
From the gloom of its winter sleep ! 



; Poets. 99 

Come away, from the ball-room's glare ! 

Come away, to a merrier dance, — 
To a hall, whose floor is the flashing ice, 
Whose light is the stars' pure glance ! 
Now we 're watching the moon in her dreams, 

Now we dash at our speed again ; 
While the stream groans under the icy links 
Which the frost has forged for his chain ! 
Then away, my boys, away ! 

Far over the ice we '11 sweep, 
And wake the slumbering echo's voice 
From the gloom of its winter sleep ! 

Come away, each lady fair ! 

Come, add to the magical sight ! 
And mingle the silvery tones of your words 

With the echoing ''voices of night " ! 
Heigho ! for the frozen plain ! 

Here's a glancing mirror, I ween, 
Eeflecting all the beautiful forms 
That move in our fairy-like scene. 
Away ! my lady, away ! 

Far over the ice we '11 sweep. 
And wake the slumbering echo's voice 
From the gloom of its winter sleep ! 

Come away, from your sorrow and grief. 

All you that are gloomy and sad ! 
Unwrinkle your brows to the whistling wind, 

Till your hearts grow merry and glad ! 
Ho ! hark ! how the laughter in peals, 

Is shaking the tides of the air. 
And shouting aloud to drown with its joy 



100 Poets. 

The muttering murmurs of care ! 
Then away ! my boys, away ! 
Far over the ice we '11 sweep, 
And wake the slumbering echo's voice 
From the gloom of its winter sleep ! 

Come, one and all, then, away ! 

Come, cheerily join in our song, 
And mingle with music the ring of the steel, 

Keep in time, as we 're sweeping along ! 
Heigho ! for the throne of the Frost ! 

We '11 frighten the phantoms of night, 
And serenade, far under the depths, 
The river's listening sprite ! 
Then away ! my boys, away ! 
Far over the ice we '11 sweep. 
And wake the slumbering echo's voice, 
From the gloom of its winter sleep ! 



JWi^^ f^enrirtta ?^otoavt) ?i?oltiirl). 



Miss Holdich, whose "Centennial Story" we 
give, later, has also written a number of poems 
among which is one which is unusually thought- 
ful and impressive, entitled "On Holy Ground" 



Poets. 101 

and suggested by a Russian legend. She is repre- 
sented here by a few lovely lines written for a gold- 
en wedding and sent to the happy pair with a bas- 
ket of flowers and fruit. 



LINES 

WRITTEN FOR A GOLDEN WEDDING. 



Orange buds a maiden wears 
On the blissful wedding morn ; 

Snowy buds on golden hair 

Tell of love and faith new born. 

Ripened now the perfect fruit, 
Fifty sunny years have passed ; 

Golden fruit on snowy hair 

Tells of love and faith that last. 



asailliam Cucfeeg Jtterrtiti). 



Mr Meredith, a Philadelphian by birth, and also 
a banker in New York City, is also one of our sum- 
mer residents, his main interest in Morristown com- 
ing, as he says, from the fact that his grandmother 



102 Poets. 

was a Morristown Ogden. He served as an officer 
in the United States Navy with Farragut at the bat- 
tle of Mobile Bay and was afterwards his secreta- 
ry. 

Mr. Meredith, is perhaps best known by his 
spirited poem, entitled "Farragut", which appear- 
ed in The Century, in 1890, and heads the group of 
''Various Poems" in Stedman and Hutchinson's 
" Library of American Literature." 

Besides this Mr. Meredith has written for The 
New York Times and other journals and publica- 
tions at various times. He wrote for The Century 
a War article on ' ' Farragut's Capture of New Or- 
leans ," which may be found in Volume IV of the 
published series. A novel appeared with his name, 
in 1890, entitled "Not of Her Father's Eace ", in 
which the " Fox Hunt " is, the author tells us, a 
study of a bag chase in which he took part some 
years ago near Morristown, although he has laid the 
scene in Newport. We giye the poem, "Farra- 
gut". 

FARRAGUT. 

MOBILE BAY, 5 AUGUST, 1864. 

Farragut, Farragut, 

Old Heart of Oak, 
Daring Dave Farragut, 

Thunderbolt stroke. 



Poets. 105 



Watches the hoary mist 

Lift from the bay, 
Till his flag, glory-kissed, 

Greets the young day. 

Far, by gray Morgan's walls. 

Looms the black fleet. 
Hark, deck to rampart calls 

With the drum's beat ! 
Buoy your chains overboard, 

While the steam hums ; 
Men ! to the battlement, 

Farragut comes. 

See, as the hurricane 

Hurtles in wrath 
Squadrons of cloud amain 

Back from its path ! 
Back to the parapet. 

To the guns' lips. 
Thunderbolt Farragut 

Hurls the black ships. 

Now through the battle's roar 

Clear the boy sings, 
'^ By the mark fathoms four, 

While his lead swings. 
Steady the wheelmen f^YQ 

" Nor' by East keep her, " 
^^ Steady " but two alive : 

How the shells sweep her ! 



104 Poets. 



Lashed to the mast that sways 

Over red decks, 
Over the flame that plays 

Eound the torn wrecks, 
Over the dying hps 

Framed for a cheer, 
Farragut leads his ships, 

Guides the line clear. 

On by heights cannon -browed, 

While the spars quiver ; 
Onward still flames the cloud 

Where the hulks shiver. 
See, yon fort's star is set, 

Storm and fire past. 
Cheer him, lads — Farragut, 

Lashed to the mast ! 

Oh I while Atlantic's breast 

Bears a white sail. 
While f he Gulf's towering crest 

Tops a green vale ; 
Men thy bold deeds shall tell, 

Old Heart of Oak, 
Daring Dave Farragut 

Thunderbolt stroke ! 



Poets. 105 



Miss Johnson, the niece of Mr. J. Henry John- 
son, one of Morristown's old residents, and the last 
preceptor of the old Academy, will be found again 
among ^^Historians''. She has written and pub- 
lished a large number of poems, besides, and from 
them we select the following : 

THE CHEISTMAS TREE. 

Shall I tell you a story of Christmas time ? 

Of what Nellie found by her Christmas tree ? 
If I tell it at all, it must be in rhyme 

For it seems like a song to Nellie and me 
That ripples along to a breezy tune. 
Like a brook that sings through the woods in June ; 

And yet it was dark November weather 

When song and story began together. 

^^Papa", said Nellie, with wistful tone, 

' ' When God sends little children here. 
Do beautiful angels flutter down 

As once when they brought our Saviour dear '] 
Don't they sing in the sky, where we can't see 

And listen up there to Harry and me ? 
'Cause I prayed last night for the bestest things 

Heavenly Father sends us, and Harry said 
I might ask for a sister who had n't wings 

A dear little sister to sleep in my bed ; 



106 Poets. 

For my other one went away, you know, 
To sing with the angels long ago, 

And I want another to stay w4th me 

A dear little sister like Daisy Lee. 
So high. Papa ! Look, do n't you see ? 

Just up to my chin. Heavenly Father knows- 
'Bout her dress and her shoes and her curly hair 

'Cause I told him all, and so I s'pose 
The first little sister He has to spare 

He'll send her down here, oh won't she be 
A dear little sister for Harry and me ! " 

^' Yes, my Nellie", her father said. 

One gentle hand on the curly head 
With tender caress and whispered word 

Too low for her ear, ' though a Bright-one heard 
And passed it up, meet signal given 

From love on earth to love in heaven ; 
' ' Yes, my Nellie, wait and see ! 

We are all in our Heavenly Father's care 
And He '11 send what is best for you and me 

When we look to Him with a loving prayer ". 

The days passed on. 'Twas that happy time 
When bells ring out with their Christmas chime ; 

There were people at work all over the land 

Busy for Santa Clans, heart and hand. 
And some in cabin and work-shop dim 
Who would n't have w^ork if it was n't for him ^ 
And Harry and Nellie ? — There were none 

In that Christmas time had a gayer tree. 
Pai)a was at work at early dawn 

And the children all tip-toe to see ; 
But the dark December day wore on 



Poets. 101 

E'er the door was opened noiselessly, 
And the light streamed out in the dusky hall 
From a beautiful cedar bright and tall. 

Starry tapers were gleaming there, 

Toy and trumpet and banner fair, 
The topmost flag on the ceiling bore 
While the laden branches swept the floor ; 

While gay little Eover frisking in, 

Led the children in frolic and din 
As they spied each treasure and in their glee 
Shouted with joy round the Christmas tree, 
While Papa stood back in a corner to see. 

*'0h ! Harry-', said Nellie, ''I do declare 

Here's a basket for me I " She opened the lid 
And pulled back the blanket folded there 

And what d'ye think was safely hid 
But a dear live baby so fast asleep 

That it never waked up with the children's shout 
Till Nellie asked, " is it ours to keep ? " 

And kissed its hand as she stood in doubt. 

'^Of course," said Harry, "do n't angels know 
When God has told them which way to go ? 
That's our little sister we wanted so ! " 

" Little sister", said Nellie, ''I'm very glad, 

I know you 're the best Heavenly Father had 
And now you 're ours and you 're going to stay 
'Cause the angels have left you and gone away." 

"No, my Nellie," a voice replied, 

As Papa drew near to Nellie's side, 

" Let us pray they may watch over this little one 



108 Poets. 

Day by day, till life is done, 
That she may be glad through eternity 
She was ever left 'neath our Christmas tree ". 



W\^^ iiWargam |^. «>arravtr. 



Our gifted young townswoman, Miss Garrard, 
who has often entertained us with her rare dramat- 
ic talent, has contributed, for a number of years, 
articles in prose and verse to well-known maga- 
zines and journals, notably to Lippincotfs Maga- 
zine and Life. In Lippincott for June, 1890, we 
»find a very pretty poem embodying a clever thought 
and entitled "A Coquette's Motto". In a previous 
number appears "A Trip to Tophet ", which is a 
sparkling and gra]_)hic description of a descent into 
a silver-mine at Virginia City, California. In it oc- 
curs the following picture of the visitor's surround- 
ings : 

" The next few minutes will always be a haunt- 
ing memory to me. The long, dark passages, the 
burning atmosphere, the scattered lights, the weird 
figures of the miners appearing, only to vanish the 



Poets. 109 

next moment in the surrounding gloom, all recur 
like some infernal dream ". 

We select to represent Miss Garrard, the first 
poem she pubhshed in Life : 

THE PLAQUE DE LIMOGES. 

You hang upon her boudoir wall, 

Plaque de Limoges ! 
She prizes you above them all 

Plaque de Limoges ! 
Yet do your blossoms never move, 
Although she looks on them with love, 
And treasures your hard buds above 
The gathered bloom of field and grove. 

Insensate, cold Limoges ! 

Brilliant in hue your every flower, 

Plaque de Limoges ! 
Copied from some French maiden's bower. 

Plaque de Limoges ! 
But still you let my lady stand— 
The fairest lady in the land- 
Caressing you with her soft hand. 
Nor breathe, nor stir at her command. 

Cold-hearted clay — Limoges ! 

Would that I in your place might be. 

Plaque de Limoges ! 
That she might stand and gaze on me, 

Plaque de Limoges ! 
I'd live in love a httle space, 
Then— fling my flowers from their place, 



110 Poets. 

At her dear feet to sue for grace, 
Until she 'd raise them to her face, 
Happy, hut crushed Limoges I 



IWii^g Julia iE. Botrge- 



Though Miss Dodge finds her place naturally 
and kindly in the society of our poets, all readers 
of The Century will remember a charming prose 
paper of hers called " An Island of the Sea", beau- 
tifully illustrated by Thomas Moran and published 
in 1877. Before and since that time, her pen has 
not been idle, for short, prose articles have been 
scattered here and there, in various periodicals, and 
it is difficult to select from the number of thought- 
ful and delicate poems now before us, one to rep- 
resent her. The poem, '^A Legend of St. Sophia in 
1453", is full of spirit and fire. It was written in 
1878, when the advance of the Russian forces to- 
wards Constantinople seemed to point to the ful- 
fillment of ancient prophecy and tlie restoration of 
Christian dominion over the stronghold of Islam. 
The poem entitled ''Satisfied" was first published 
in Tlie Churchman and afterwards placed, without 



Poets. Ill 

the author's knowledge, in a collection called "The 
Palace of the King ", published by Eandolph & Co. 
Among the other poems are : ' ' Our Daily Bread", 
"Spring Song", "Telling Fortunes", "September 
Memories ", and "To a Night-Blooming Cereus ", 
which last we give principally because, besides be- 
ing a beautiful expression of a beautiful thought, 
it was written under the inspiration of a flower sent 
to the w^riter from an ancient plant in a Morristow^n 
conservatory. 

TO A NIGHT-BLOOMING CEEEUS. 

fleeting wonder, glory of a night, 
Only less evanescent than the gleam 
That marks the lightning's track, or some swift 
dream 

That comes and, vanishing, eludes our sight T 

How canst thoa be content, thy whole rich stream 
Of life to lavish on this hour's delight. 
And perish ere one morninfy's praise requite 

Thy gift of peerless splendor ? It doth seem 

Thou art a type of that pure steadfast heart 
Which hath no wish but to perform His will 
Who called it into being, no desire 

But to be fair for Him ; no other part 

Doth choose, but here its fragrance to distil 

For one brief moment ere He bid "Come higher "! 



112 Poets. 



Mr. Piatt, the faithful principal of our Morris 
Academy, has of late, "at odd moments and in 
vacations", as he says, written verses of local ref- 
erence and others, upon various subjects, which 
have been published in our local papers and else- 
where. 

Born at Ehzabeth, N. J., Mr. Piatt Hved there 
until 1883. He was graduated at Williams' College 
in 1877, taught in the Rev. J. F. Pingry's School in 
Elizabeth for six years, came to Morristown and 
took charge of the Morris Academy in 1883, and 
has retained that position to the present time. 

Among the poems which refer to local interests 
are "Fort Nonsense"; "The Old First Church"; 
"The Lyceum" and "The Washington Head- 
quarters ", which last will follow this short sketch, 
as embodying so much that is interesting of that 
historic building and its surroundings. 

Other of the poems might, perhaps, for some 
special quahties, better represent Mr. Piatt than 
this ; there is the excellent and gay little parody, 
which we would like to give, of "That Old Latin 
Grammar." "The Wild Lily " is charming. Then 
there. are "Memorial Day"; "Easter Song"; and 



Poets. 113 

''John Greenleaf Whittier", the last written and 
published upon the occasion of the poet's death 
September 16th, 1892. Besides these, there are the 
"Ballades of the Holidays" which form a series by 
themselves, dealing in part with the subject of 
popular maxims, and including poems for Christ- 
mas, New Year's Day, Discovery Day and other 
holidays. We give 

THE WASHINGTON HEADQUARTEES, MOR- 
EISTOWN, NEW JERSEY. 

What mean these cannon standing here, 
These staring, muzzled dogs of w^ar ? 

Heedless and mute, they cause no fear, 
Like lions caged, forbid to roar. 

This gun- was made when good Queen Anne 
Ruled upon Merry England's throne ; 

Captured by valiant Jerseymen 

Ere Greorge the Third our rights would own. 

" Old Nat ",t the little cur on wheels. 

Protector of our sister city, 
Was kept to bite the British heels, 

A yelping terror, bold and gritty. 



*Inscription on this Cannon : — 

Gun made in Queen Anne's time. Captured with a British vessel 
by a party of Jerseymen in the year ITSO, near Perth Amboy. Pre- 
sented by the township of Woodbrfdge, New Jersey, in 1874. 

■^Inscription on ' ' Old Xat : " — 

This cannon was furoished Capt. Jsathaniel Camp by Gen. George 
Washington for the protection of Newark, IS". J., against the British. 
Presented to the ^Association by Mr. Bruen H. Camp, of Newark, N. J. 



114 Poets. 

That savage beast, the old "Crown Prince 'V 
A British bull-dog, glum, thick-set, 

At Springfield's fight was made to wince. 
And now we keep him for a pet. 

Upon this grassy knoll they stand, 

A venerable, peaceful pack ; 
Their throats once tuned to music grand. 

And stained with gore their muzzles black. 

But come, that portal swinging free, 

A welcome offers, as of yore. 
When, sheltered 'neath this old roof- tree, 

Our patriot-chieftain trod this floor. 

And with him in that trying day 
Was gathered here a glorious band ; 

This house received more chiefs, they say. 
Than any other in our land.f 

Hither magnanimous Schuyler came. 
And stern Steuben from o'er the water ; 

Here Hamilton, of brilliant fame, 

Once met and courted Schuyler's daughter. 

And Knox, who leads the gunner-tribes, 
Whose shot the trembling foeman riddles, 



'■-I'lie inscription upon it is as follows : — 

The "Crown Prince Gun." Captured from the British at Spring- 
field. Used as an alarm gun at Short Hills to end of Revolutionary- 
War. Given in charge by General Benoni Hathaway to Colonel Wm. 
Brittin on the last training at Morristown, and by his son, Wm. Jack- 
son Brittin, with the consent of the public authorities, presented to the 
Association in the year 1890. 

+The list of officers of the Revolutionary army mentioned in the 
poem is taken from S, printed placard which hangs in the hall of the 
Headquarters. . 



Poets. 115 

A roariDg chief ,* his cash subscribes 
To pay the mirth-inspiring fiddles. f 

The ^'fighting Quaker," General Greene, 
Helped Knox to foot the fiddlers' bill ; 

And here the intrepid "Put." was seen, 
And Arnold — black his memory still. 

And Kosciusko, scorning fear, 

Beside him noble Lafayette ; 
And gallant "Light Horse Harry" here 

His kindly chief for counsel met. 

*'Mad Anthony" was here a guest, — 
Madly he charged, but shrewdly planned; 

And many another in whose breast 
Was faithful counsel for our land. 

Among these worthies was a dame 

Of mingled dignity and grace ; 
Linked with the warrior-statesman's fame 

Is Martha's comely, smiling face. 

But look around, to right to left ; 

Pass through these rooms, once Martha's pride, 
The dining hall of guests bereft, 

The kitchen with its fire-place wide. 



*Knox is called a roaring chief because when crossing the Delaware 
with Washington his " bteutoi'ian lungs" did good service in keeping the 
army together. 

+The reference to the fiddlers is based upon an old subscription paper 
for defraying the exj^enses of a " Dancing Assembly," signed by several 
persons, among them Nathaniel Greene and H. Knox, each $400, paid. 

This paper may be seen in the collection made by Mrs. J. W. 
Roberts. 



116 Poets. 

See the liuge logs, the swiDging crane, 
The Old Man's seat by chimney ingle, 

The pots and kettles, all the train 

Of brass and pewter, here they mingle. 

In the large hall above, behold 

The flags, the eagle poised for flight : 

While sabres, bayonets, flint-locks old. 
Tell of the struggle, and the fight. 

Old faded letters bear the seal 
Of men who battled for a stamp ; 

A cradle and a spinning-wheel 

Bespeak the home behind the camp. 

Apartments opening from the hall 
Show chairs and desks of quaint old style, 

And carious pictures on the wall 
Provoke a reverential smile. 

Musing, we loiter in each room 

And linger with our vanished sires ; 

We hear the deep, far- echoing boom 
That spoke of old in flashing fires. 

But deepening shadows bid us go. 
The western sun is sinking fast ; 

We take our leave with footsteps slow, 
Farewell, ye treasures of the past. 

A century and more has gone. 

Since these old relics saw their day ; 

That day was but the opening dawn 
Of one that has not passed away. 



.Poets. 117 



Our banner is no worthless rag, 

With patriot pride hearts still beat high ; 
And there, above, still waves the dag 

For which our fathers dared to die. 



Jttrg. Jjulia i\. iCutler, 



Mrs. Cutler's graceful pen has already con- 
tributed to this volume the sketch of Mrs. Mary 
Lee Demarest and also another to follow of Mrs. 
Julia McNair Wright. Her pen has been busy at 
occasional intervals from girlhood, when as a 
school-girl her essays were, as a rule, selected and 
read aloud in the chapel, on Friday afternoons, and 
a poem securing the gold medal crowned the suc- 
cess. 

Living since her marriage, in the old historic 
house of Mr. Cutler's great-grandfather, the Hon. 
Silas Condict, fearless patriot of the Revolution, 
and President of the Council of Safety during the 
whole of that period that "tried men's souls", it is 
little wonder that the traditions of '76 clinging 
about the spot should nurture and develop the 



118 Poets. 

poetic spirit of the girl. It was in 1799, after Mr, 
Condict's return from Congress that he built the 
present house familiar to us all, but the old house 
stands near by, full of the most interesting stories 
and traditions of revolutionary days. 

Mrs. Cutler has written many articles, often 
by request, for papers or magazines, and verses 
prompted by circumstances or surroundings, or 
composed when strongly impressed upon an especial 
subject. 

Before us lies a lovely poem of childhood, enti- 
tled ''Childish Faith", founded on fact, but we 
select from the many poems of Mrs. Cutler, the 
Centennial Poem given below, and written on the 
occasion of the Centennial of the old First Church. 

CENTENNIAL FIEST PRESBYTEEIAN 
CHUECH. 

The moon shines brightly down, o'er hill and dale 

As it shone down, One Hundred years ago. 

On these same scenes. The stars look down from 

Heaven 
As they did then, as calm, serene, and bright — 
Fit emblems of tlie God, who changes not. 
Only in Him can we find sure repose . 
'Mid change, decay and death, who is the same 
To-day as yesterday, forevermore. 

Through the clear air peal forth the silvery 
notes. 
Of thy old Bell, thou venerable pile. 



Poets. 119 

Thou dear old Church, whose birthday rare, 
We come to celebrate with tender love. 

One Hundred years ! How long ; and yet,. 

how short 
When counted with the centuries of the past 
That help to make the ages of the world : 
How long when measured by our daily cares. 
The joys, the sorrows that these years have brought 
To us and ours. '' Our fathers, where are they ? " 
The men of strength, one hundred years ago, 
As full of courage, purpose, will, as we, 
Have gone to join the " innumerable throng " 
That worship in the Father's House above. 
Their children, girls and boys, like the fair flowers,. 
Have blossomed, faded, and then passed away, 
Leaving their children and grandchildren, too. 
To fill their places, take their part in life. 

How oft, dear Church, these walls have 

heard the vows 
That bound two hearts in one. How oft the tread 
Of those that bore the sainted dead to rest. 
How oft the voices soft and low, of those 
Who, trusting in a covenant-keeping God, 
Gave here their little ones to God. A faith 
Which He has blessed, as thou canst truly tell^ 
In generations past, and will in days to come. 
How many servants of the most high God, 
Beneath thy roof have uttered words divine^ 
Taught by the Spirit, leading souls to Christ 
And reaping, even here, their great reward. 
Many of these have entered into rest 
Such as remains for those who love the Lord. 
Others to-day, have gathered here to tell 



120 Poets. 

What God has done in years gone by, and bear 
Olad testimony to the truth, that in this place 
His name has honored been. — 'Tis sad to say 
Farewell. But 'tis decreed, that thou must go. 
Time levels all ; and it will lay thee low. 
But o'er thy dust full many a tear shall fall, 
And many a prayer ascend, that the true God, 
Our Father's God, will, with their children dwell, 
And that the stately pile which soon shall rise, 
Where now, thou art, a monument shall be 
Of generations past, recording all 
The truth and mercies of a loving God. 
Oct. 14th, 1801. 



Mx^, ffiatljariue ?1. Uurnijam* 



Mrs. Burnham, who is also among our "Story 
Writers", has written a number of poems, from 
one of which we select the opening lines : 

EXTEACT FROM 
"BEETHOVEN'S FIFTH SYMPHONY." 

As the bird that's wandered out to sea 
And, hearing the mysterious rush and roar 
Of the great ocean throbbing underneath her, 
Longs for the rest and peace of wildwood green, 



m 



-y: 










FIRST PRESBYTl 

skssimn hoi 

MCJKIMS COUNTY SOl- 



'3/ > 






"1 



CHURCH, 1T91, 

MANSE. 

ONUMENT, 1871. 




Poets. 125 

Where all the hum and crooning song of nature 

Woos her to sit amoug the leafy boughs 

And build her nest amid th e sweet green forest, 

So I had heard the monotone of ocean, 

Of vague, sad, rushing strivings in the music. 

But now the glad hymn bears me quite away. 

I mount on harmonies of love and glory. 

For life hath taught me of the glad, sweet strain, 

Made up of sad and joyous intermixed, 

Of broken bursts of song, of wailing grief, 

Of discords eveu, till we know their meaning 

And how they blend in truer harmony 

In the great Maker's plan of conquering love. 



Wissi J^rancesi lijiil aToutsitn. 



The rhythmic, airy verses of Miss Coursen, full 
of the spirit of trees, flowers, the clouds, the winds 
and the insinuating and lovely sounds of nature, 
charm us into writing the author down as one of 
Morristown's young poets. The verses have at- 
tractive titles which in themselves suggest to us mu- 
sical thoughts, such as ''To the Winds in January"; 
''JuneEoses"; '' In the Fields "; and "What the 



126 Poets. 

Katydids Say ". We quote the latter for its bright 
beauty. 

WHAT THE KATYDIDS SAY. 

^^Katy did it ! " " Katy didn't ! " 

Does ii't Katy wish she had ? 
^^Katy did ! " that sounds so pleasant ^ 

"Katy did n't " sounds so bad. 

Katy did n't — lazy Katy, 

Did n't do her lessons well ? 
Did n't set her stitches nicely ? 

Did n't do what ? Who can tell ?' 

But the livelong autumn evening 
Sounds from every bush and tree. 

So that all the world can hear it, 
" Katy did n't " oh dear ma ! 

Who would like to hear forever 

Of the things they had n't done 
In shrill chorus, sounding nightly. 

From the setting of the sun. 

But again, who would n't like it 

If they every night could hear. 
" Yes she did it, Katy did it ", 

Sounding for them loud and clear I 

So if you 've an '' awful lesson ", 

Or '^a hoi-rid seam to sew ", 
Just you stop and think a minute^ 

Do n't decide to " let it ^o ". 



Poets. . 12T 

In the evening, if you listen, 

All the Katydids will say 
"Yes she did it, did it, did it ! " 

Or, ''she did n't ". Now which way ? 



Mi^^ jf^al3el Stone. 



Miss Stone, long a resident of Morristown, has 
published many poems in prominent journals and 
magazines, also stories, but always under an assu- 
med name. She will take a place in another group, 
that of Novelists and Story -Writers. She is repre- 
sented here by her poem on " Easter Thoughts". 

EASTER THOUGHTS. 

Sometimes within our hearts, the good lies dead. 

Slain by untoward circumstance, or by our own 
free will. 
And through the world we walk with bowed head ; 

Or with our senses blinded to our choice, 
Thinking that ''good is evil — evil good ;" 

Or, with determined pride to still the voice 
That whispers of a " Resurrection morn." 

This is that morn — the resurrection hour 
Of all the good that has within us died. 



128 . Poets. 

The hour to throw aside with passionate force 
The cruel bonds of wrong and bhndness — pride — 

And rise unto a level high of power, 
Of strength — of purity — while those we love rejoice 

With " clouds of angel witnesses" above, 
And all the dear ones, who before have gone. 

And we ascend, in the triumphant joy 
And peace, and rapture of a changed self 

That now transfigured stands — no more the toy 
Of circumstance — or pride, or sin, to blight — 
Until we reach sublimest heights — 
And stand erect, eyes fixed upon the Eight — 

Strong in the strength that wills all wrong to still, 
Will — pointing upwards to th' ascended Lord, 

Bless, aye, thrice bless, this fair, sweet Easter Dawn. 



MelK (K. ©ougla^g 13vetOEVton. 



The Eev. Mr. Brewerton was pastor of the Bap- 
tist Church in Morristown in 1861, and during the 
early years of our Civil War. He was very patri- 
otic and public-spirited and founded a Company of 
boy Zouaves in the town, which is well remember- 
ed, for at that time the war-si)ivit was the order of 



Poets. 129 

the day. Pie wrote a number of poems which were 
pubhshed in the Morristown papers and others. Of 
these, the following is one, published January 30, 
1861. 

OUR SOLDIERS WITH OUR SAILORS STAND. 

A NATIONAL SONG 

RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE VOLUNTEERS OF 

BOTH SERVICES, BY ONE WHO ONCE WORE 

THE UNIFORM OF THE FEDERAL 

GOVERNMENT. 

Our soldiers with our sailors stand, 

A bulwark firm and true, 
To guard the banner of our land, 

The Red, the White, the Blue. 

The forts that frown along the coast. 

The ramparts on the steep, 
Are held by men who never boast, 

But true allegiance keep. 

While still in thunder tones shall speak 

Our giants on the tide, 
Rebuking those who madly seek 

To tame the eagle's pride. 

While breezes blow or sounding sea 

Be w^iitened by a sail. 
The banner of the brave and true 

Shall float, nor fear the gale. 



130 Poets. 

While Ironsides commands the fleet. 

Shall patriot vows be heard, 
Where pennants fly or war drums beat, 

True to their oaths and word. 

Then back, ye traitors ! back, for shame ! 

Nor dare to touch a fold ; 
We '11 guard it till the sunshine wane 

And stars of night grow old. 

Thus ever may that flag unrent 

At peak and staff be borne, 
Nor e'er from mast or battlement 

By traitor hands be torn. 



iWris. aiire W. Slbdl. 



Mrs. Abell has for several years contributed 
poems and articles to various papers and magazines. 
From the poems we select the following, which was 
copied in a Southern ]3aper as well as in two others, 
from The New York Magazine in which it first ap- 
peared : 



Poets. 131 

BEHIND THE MASK. 

Behind the mask — the smihng face 

Is often full of woe, 
And sorrow treads a restless pace 

Where wealth and beauty go. 

Eehind the mask — who knows the care 

That grim and silent rests, 
And all the burdens each may bear 

Within the secret breast i 

Behind the mask — who knows the tears 

That from the heart arise, 
And in the weary flight of years 

How many pass with sighs i 

Behind the mask — who knows the strain 

That each life may endure, 
And all its grief and countless pain 

That wealth can never cure ? 

Behind the mask — we never know 

How many troubles hide. 
And with the world and fashion show 

Some spectre walks beside. 

Behind the mask — some future day, 

When all shall be made plain ; 
Our burdens then will pass away 

And count for each his gahi. 



132 Poets. 

(Keorge fflgEetmore OToUei^j, Jr, 



The poem given below is by one of the young 
writers of Morris town, written at Yale University 
and published in the Yale Courant of February, 
1891. Mr. CoUes has written, quite recently, an 
important scientific article, the leading paper in 
The American Journal of Science for AiDril, 1893. 
on '^Distance of the Stars by Doppler's Principle."" 

TO A MOUNTAIN CASCADE. 

To him who, wearied in the noontide glare. 
Seeks cool refreshment in thy quiet shade. 
In all thy beauteous rainbow tints arrayed, 

How sweet ! dashing brook, thy waters are ! 

Sure, such a glen fair Dian with her train 
Chose to disport in, when Actaeon bold 
That sight with mortal eyes dared to behold 

Which mortals may not see and life retain. 

To such a glen I, too, at noonday creep. 
Leaving the dusty road and haunts of men. 
To quaff thy purling, sparkling ripples ; then 

To plunge within thy clear, cold basin deep. 

Alone in Nature's lap (this mossy sod) 
I lie ; feel her sweet breath upon me blow ; 
Hear her melodious woodland voice, and know 

Her passing love, the eternal love of God ! 



HYMNODIST, 



Jolju M. Muuj)on. 



Our fellow townsman of old New Jersey name, 
w^hose enthnsiastic love for music, and especially 
for church music, is well known, has manifested 
his interest in this direction by compiling a collec- 
tion of hymns known as '^ Songs of Praise. A Se- 
lection of Standard Hymns and Tunes". It is pub- 
hshed by Anson D. F. Randolph & Company, and 
"meets", says the compiler, "a uniYersally ac- 
knowledged want for a collection of Hymns to be 
used in Sunday Schools and Social Meetings". 

Says Charles H. Morse in The Christian Union 
of August 20th, 1892 : ''If music is a pattern and 
type of Heaven, then, indeed, are those whose mis- 
sion is to provide the music for our worship bur- 



134 Hymnodist. 

dened with a weight of responsibihty and called to 
a blessed ministry second only to that of the pastor 
who stands at the desk to speak the words of Life". 
To compile from various sources a collection of 
hymns acceptable to varied classes of minds, re- 
quires much discernment, great care and large 
range of knowledge on the subject, as well as a 
comprehension of what is needed which comes from 
long and wide experience, study and observation, 
in addition to natural genius. 



NOVELISTS 

AND 

STORY-WRITERS 



jFraiKijs Midjari Stockton, 



Although born in Philadelphia, Mr. Stockton 
belongs to an old and distinguished New Jersey 
family, and he has, after many wanderings, at last 
selected his home in the State of his ancestors. 

Within a few years he has purchased and fitted 
np a quaint and attractive mansion in the suburbs 
of Morristown, overlooking the beautiful Loantaka 
A^alley, where in the Eevolutionary days the tents 
of the suffering patriots were pitched or their log 
huts constructed for the bitter winter. Beyond the 
long and narrow valley, the homes of prominent res- 
idents of Morristown appear on the Western limit- 
ing range of hills, and are charmingly picturesque. 



136 Novelists and Story- Wy iters. 

This home Mr. Stockton has named " The Holt", 
signifying a wooded hill, and this legend, taken 
from Tui'berville, an old English poet, is painted 
over the fire-place in his Stndy which is over the 
Library on the South corner of the house : 

" Yee that frequent the hilles and highest holtes of all, 
Assist mee with your skilful quilles and listen when I call." 

Mr. Stockton and Richard Stockton, the signer 
of the Declaration of Independence, are descen- 
dants, in different lines, from the same ancestor, 
Eichard Stockton, who came from England in 1680 
and settled in Burlington County, New Jersey. 

Much fine and interesting criticism from various 
directions, has been called out by Mr. Stockton's 
works. 

Edmund Grosse, the well-known Professor of 
Literature in England, said just before leaving our 
shores : 

'^I think Mr. Stockton one of the most re- 
markable writers in this country. I think his orig- 
inality, his extraordinary fantastic genius, has not 
been appreciated at all. People talk about him as 
if he were an ordinary purveyor of comicality. I 
do not want to leave this country without giving 
my personal tribute, if that is worth anything, to 
his genius." 

"More than half of Mr. Stockton's readers, 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 137 

without doubt", says another critic, "think of him 
merely as the daintiest of humorists ; as a writer 
whose work is entertaining in an unusual degree, 
rather than weighed in a critical scale, or consid- 
ered seriously as a part of the literary expression of 
his time." 

It is acknovvdedged that Ainejicans are masters, 
at the present day, of the art of writing short sto- 
ries and these, as a rule, are like the French, dis- 
tinctly realistic. In this art Mr. Stockton excels. 
Among his short stories, "The Bee Man of Orn" 
and "The G-riffin and the Minor Canon" represent 
his power of fancy. ' ' The Hunting Expedition " in 
"Prince Hassak's March" is particularly jolly, and 
in "The Stories of the Three Burglars", we find a 
specimen of his realistic treatment. In the last, he 
makes the young house-breaker, who is an educated 
man, say : " I have made it a rule never to describe 
anything I have not personally seen and experien- 
ced. It is the only way, otherwise we can not give 
people credit for their virtues or judge them prop- 
erly for their faults." Upon this, Aunt Martha ex- 
claims : "I think that the study of realism may be 
carried a great deal too far. I do not think there 
is the slightest necessity for people to know any- 
thing about burglars." And later she says, refer- 
ring to this one of the three : "I have no doubt, 
before he fell into his wicked ways, he was a very 
good writer and might have become a novelist or a 



138 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

magazine author, but his case is a sad proof that 
the study of reahsm is carried too far. " 

No critic seems to have observed or noticed the 
very remarkable manner in which Mr. Stockton 
renders the negro dialect on the printed page. In 
this respect he quite surpasses Uncle Eemus or any 
other writer of negro folk-lore. He spells the words 
in such a way as to give the sense and sound to ears 
unaccustomed to negro talk as well as to those ac- 
customed to it. This we especially realize in " The 
Late Mrs. Null". 

But besides the qualities we have noticed in Mr. 
Stockton's writings, there is a subtle fragrance of 
purity that exhales from one and all, which is in 
contrast to much of the novel-writing and story- 
telling of the present day. We have reason to wel- 
come warmly to our homes and to our firesides, one 
who, by his pure fun and drollery, can charm us so 
completely as to make us forget, for a time, the 
serious problems and questions which agitate and 
confront the thinking men and women of this 
generation. 

So varied and voluminous are the writings of 
Mr. Stockton, they may be grouped as Juveniles, 
Novels, Novelettes and Collected Short Stories. Be- 
sides, there are magazine stories constantly appear- 
ing, and still to be collected. Most prominent 
among the volumes are "The Lady or the Tiger?"; 
^'Eudder Grange" and its sequel, "The Rudder 



Novelists and Story- Writers. 139^ 

Grangers Abroad"; '^The Late Mrs. Nul]"; ^^The 
Casting Away of Mrs. Leeks and Mrs. Aleshine"; 
''The Hundredth Man"; "The Great War Syndi- 
cate"; "Ardis Claverden"; ''Stories of the Three 
Burglars"; "The House of Martha" and "The 
Squirrel Inn". 

After considering what Mr. Stockton has ac- 
complished and the place which by his genius and 
industry he has made for himself in Literature, we 
do not find it remarkable that in July, 1890, he was 
elected by the readers of The Critic into the ranks 
of the Forty Immortals. 

We give to represent Mr. Stockton, an extract 
from his novel of "Ardis Claverden," containing 
one of those clever conversations so characteristic 
of the author, and success in which marks a high 
order of dramatic genius, in making characters 
express to the listener or reader their own individ- 
uality through familiar talk. 

EXTKACT FEOM "AEDIS CLAVERDEN." 

Mr. and Mrs. Chiverly were artists. 

-::- -jf -;f -H- -jf 

The trouble with Harry Chiverly was that he 
had nothing in himself which he could put into his 
work. He could copy what he could see, but if he 
could not see what he wanted to paint, he had no 
mental power which would bring that thing before 



140 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

him, or to transform what he saw into what it 
ought to be. 

^ -Jf -X- * 4t 

The trouble with Mrs. Chiverly was that she 
did not know how to paint. With her there was 
no lack of artistic imagination. Her brain was full 
of pictures, which, if they could have been trans- 
ferred to the brain of her husband, who did know 
how to paint, would have brought fame and for- 
tune. At one end of her brush was artistic talent, 
almost genius ; at the other was a pigment mixed 
with oil. But the one never ran down to the other. 
The handle of the brush was a non-conductor. 

(We pass on to a scene in the studio. An elder- 
ly man enters, a stranger, to examine pictures, and 
stops before Mr. Chiverly's recently finished can- 
vas.) 

'' Madam," said he, ^^ can you tell me where the 
scene of this picture is laid ? It reminds me some- 
what of the North and somewhat of the South, and 
I am not sure that it does not contain suggestions 
of the East and the West." 

"Yes," thought Ardis at her easel, "and of the 
North-east, and the Sou-sou'-west, and all the 
other points of the compass. " 

Mrs. Chiverly left her seat and approached the 
visitor. She was a little piqued at his remark. 

" Some pictures have a meaning, " she said, 
" which is not apparent to every one at first sight." 



Novelists and Story- Writers. 141 

*' You are correct, madam," said the visitor. 

^'This painting, for instance," continued Mrs. 
Chiverly, '' represents the seven ages of trees." 
And then with as much readiness as Jacques detail- 
ed the seven ages of man to the duke, she pointed 
out in the trees of the picture the counterparts of 
these ages. 

"Madam," said the- visitor, '^youdehght me. 
I admit that I utterly failed to see the point of this 
picture ; but now that I am aware of its meaning 
I understand its apparent incongruities. Meaning 
despises locality." 

'^ You are right," said Mrs. Chiverly, earnest- 
ly. " Meaning is above everything." 

''Madam," said the gentleman, his eyes still 
fixed upon the canvas, " as a student of Shakes- 
peare, as well as a collector, in a small way, of works 
of art, I desire to have this picture, provided its 
price is not beyond my means." 

Mrs. Chiverly gazed at him in an uncertain 
way. She did not seem to take in the import of his 
remark. 

From her easel Ardis now named the price 
which Mr. Chiverly had fixed upon for the picture. 
He never finished a painting without stating very 
emphatically what he intended to ask for it. 

" That is reasonable," said the gentleman, ''and 
you may consider the picture mine. " And he hand- 
ed Mrs. Chiverly his card. Then, imbued with a 



142 Novelists and Story -Writers. 

new interest in the studio, he walked about looking 
at others of the pictures. 

'' This httle study," said he, " seems to me as 
if it ought to have a significance, but I declare I 
am again at fault." 

"Yes," said Mrs. Chiverlv, "it ought to have 
a significance. In fact there is a significance con- 
nected with it. I could easily tell you what it is, 
but if you were afterwards to look at the picture 
you would see no such meaning in it." 

"Perhaps this is one of your husband's earlier 
works" said the gentleman, "in w^hich he was not 
able to express his inspirations." 

"It is not one of my husband's works," said 

Mrs. Chiverly ; "it is mine." 

^f -jf -:f % * 

The moment that the gentleman had departed 
Ardis flew to Mrs. Chiverly and threw her arms 
around her neck. " Now my dearest," she exclaim- 
ed, " you know your vocation in life. You must 
put meanings to Mr. Chiverly's pictures." 

When the head of the house returned he was, 
of course, delighted to find that his painting had 
been sold. 

"That is the way with us !" he cried, "we have 
spasms of prosperity. One of our w^orks is bought, 
and up we go. Let us so live that while we are up 
we shall not remember that we have ever been 
down. And now, my dear, if you will give me the 



Novelists and Story- Writers. 143 

card of that exceptional appreciator of high art, I 
will write his bill and receipt instantly, so that if he 
should again happen to come while I am out there 
may be nothing in the way of an immediate settle- 
ment." 

Mrs. Chiverly stood by him as he sat at the 
desk. "You must call the picture," she said," 'The 
Seven Ages of Trees.'" 

"Nonsense !" exclaimed Mr. Chiverly, turning 
suddenly and gazing with astonishment at his wife. 
"That will do for a bit of pleasantry, but the title 
of the picture is 'A Scene on the Upper Mississippi.' 
You don't want to deceive the man, do you ? " 

"No, I do not," said Mrs. Chiverly, "and that 
is one reason why I did not give it your title. It is 
a capitally painted picture, and as a woodland 
^ Seven Ages' it is simply perfect. That was what 
it sold for ; and for that and nothing else will the 
money be paid." 

Mr. Chis^erly looked at her for a moment long- 
er, and then, bursting into a laugh, he returned to 
his desk. "You have touched me to the quick," he 
said. " Money has given title before and it shall do 
so now. There is the receipted bill !" he cried, push- 
ing back his chair. 



144 Novelists and Story- Writers. 



Bret Harte, so far as we can discover, has writ- 
ten the only story of Revolutionary times in Mor- 
ristown, and the only story of those times in New 
Jersey except Miss Holdich, who follows, and 
James Fenimore Cooper, whose "Water Witch" is, 
located about the Highlands of New Jersey. By a 
passage from his story of " Thankful Blossom" we 
shall represent him at the close of this sketch. 

Between 1873 and 1876 Bret Harte lived in Mor- 
ristown, in several locations : in the picturesque 
old Eevere place on the Mendham Road, the very 
home for a Novelist, now owned and occupied by 
Mr. Charles G. Foster ; in the Whatnong house for 
one summer, near which are located old farms, 
which seem to us to have many features of the 
^' Blossom Farm" and to which we shall refer ; in 
the Logan Cottage on Western Avenue and in the 
house on Elm Street now owned and occupied by 
Mr. Joseph F. Randolph. 

The steps by which Bret Harte climbed to the 
■eminence that he now occupies, are full of rojnan- 
tic interest. Left early by his father, who was a 
Professor in an Albany Seminary and a man of 
culture, to struggle with little means, the boy, at 



Novelists and Story -Writers. It5 

fifteen, had only an ordinary education and went in 
1854, with his mother, to Cahfornia. He opened a 
school in Sonora, walking to that place from San 
Francisco. Fortune did not favor him either in this 
undertaking or in that of mining, to which, like all 
young Californians in that day, he resorted as a 
means to live. He then entered a printing office as 
compositor and began his literary career by compo- 
sing his first articles in type while working at the 
case. Here he had editorial experiences which end- 
ed abruptly in consequence of the want of sympa- 
thy in the miners with his articles. He returned 
to San Francisco and became compositor in the of- 
fice of The Golden Era. His three years experi- 
ence among the miners served him in good stead 
and his clever sketches describing those vivid 
scenes, soon placed him in the regular corps of wri- 
ters for the paper. The Ccdifornian, a literary 
weekly, then engaged Harte as associate manager 
and, in this short-lived paper appeared the ^^ Con- 
densed I^ovels" in which Dickens' ^' Christmas Sto- 
ries", Charlotte Bronte's ^^Jane Eyre", Victor Hu- 
go's ^^Les Miserables", and other prominent and 
familiar writings of distinguished authors are most 
cleverly taken off. These have amused and delight- 
ed the reading world since their first appearance. 
During the next six years, he filled the office of 
Secretary of the United States Branch Mint, and 
also wrote for Califorifia journals, many of his ini- 



146 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

portant poems, among them, "John Burns of Get- 
tysburg", and "The Society upon the Stanislau", 
which attracted wide attention by their originahty 
and pecuhar flavor of the " Wild West". In July, 
1868, Harte organized, and became the editor of, 
what is now a very successful journal. The Over- 
land Monthly. . For this journal he wrote many of 
his most characteristic stories and poems and intro- 
duced into its pages, "The Luck of Eoaring Camp"; 
*' The Outcasts of Poker Flat ", and others having 
that peculiar pseudo-dialect of Western mining life 
of which he was the pioneer writer. He had now 
taken a great step towards high and artistic work. 
At this point his reputation was established. 

As for Eevolutionary New Jersey poems, abun- 
dant as the material is for inspiration, Bret Harte's 
''Caldwell of Springfield " seems to be one of very 
few. At the luncheon of the Daughters of the 
American Eevolution held in May of 1892, a promi- 
nent member of the Association recited the above 
poem and inentioned, that strange to say, it was 
as far as she had been able to ascertain, the only 
poem on Eevolutionary times in New Jersey that 
had ever been written, though she had searched 
thoroughly. In addition to this, we find, besides 
the poem of Mr. Charles D. Piatt, given in this 
volume, (and others of his referred to), several, in 
a volume published years ago, privately, by Dr. 
Thomas Ward, of New York, (a great uncle of Mrs. 



Novelists and Storij-Wriiers. lit 

Luther Kountze). Very few copies of his poeuis 
were printed and all were given to his friends, not 
sold. Edmund Clarence Stedman has given us the 
spirited "Aaron Burr's Wooing" and " Frank For- 
rester" the " Ballads of the American Eevolution." 
There was also an early writer, Philip Freneau, of 
Monmouth County, who lived in Colonial and Eev- 
olutionary times, and wrote some quaint and charm- 
ing poems of that period. 

In this book, "Plain Language From Truthful 
James", better known as "The Heathen Chinee", 
represents Mr. Harte among the poets, in our group 
of writers, for the reason that it is so widely known 
as a satire upon the popular prejudices against the 
Chinese, who were at that time pursued with the 
hue and cry of being shiftless and w^eak- minded. 

From 1868, Harte became a regular contribu- 
tor to the Atlantic Monthly and he also entered 
the lecture field. It was during this period that he 
lived in Morristown. In 1878 he went to Crefeld, 
Germany, as United States Consul, and here began 
his life abroad. Two years later he went, as Con- 
sul, to Glasgow, Scotland, since which time he has 
remained abroad, engaged in literary pursuits. 

The Contributor's Club, of the Atlantic Month- 
ly, gives a curious little paper on "The Value of a 
Name", in which the writer insists that Bret Harte, 
Mark Twain, Dante Eossetti and others owe a part 
of their success, at least, to the phonic value of 



148 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

their names. He says that ' ^much time and thought 
are spent in selecting a name for a play or novel, 
for it is known xhat success is largely dependent on 
it" and he therefore censures parents who are '' so 
strangely careless and unscientific in giving names 
to their children." 

Bret Harte's publications include besides ^'Con- 
densed Novels", '^ Thankful Blossom", and others 
already mentioned, several volumes of Poems issued 
at different periods : among them are ''Songs of the 
Sierras" and "Echoes of the Foot Hills". Then 
there are "Tales of the Argonauts and Other Sto- 
ries"; "Drift From Two Shores"; Twins of Table 
Mountain"; "Flip and Found at Blazing Star"; 
"On the Frontier"; "Snow Bound at Eagle's"; 
"Maruja, aNovel"; " The Queen of the Pirate Isle", 
for children ; " A Phyllis of the Sierras"; " A Waif 
of the Plains"; "Sally Dows" and many others, 
besides his collected works in fiYQ volumes publish- 
ed in 1882. 

Writing to Bret Harte in London, for certain 
information about the story of ' ' Thankful Blos- 
som ", the author of this volume received the fol- 
lowing reply : 



Novelists and Story- Writers. 149 

15 Upper Hamilton Terrace, N. W., 

31st May, '90. 

Dear Madam : 

In reply to your favor of the 14tli inst. , I fear 
I must begin by saying that the story of " Thank- 
ful Blossom ", although inspired and suggested by 
my residence at Morristown at different periods was 
not luritten at that place, but in another part of New 
Jersey. The ''Blossom Farm " was a study of two 
or three old farm houses in the vicinity, but was 
not an existing fact so far as I know. But the de- 
scription of Washington's Head- Quarters was a 
study of the actual house^ supplemented by such 
changes as were necessary for the epoch I described, 
and which I gathered from the State Eecords. The 
portraits of Washington and his military family at 
the Head-Quarters were drawn from Spark's '' Life 
of Washington " and the best chronicles of the time. 
The episode of the Spanish Envoy is also histori- 
cally substantiated, and the same may be said of 
the incidents of the disaffection of the " Connecti- 
cut Contingent." 

Although the heroine, "Thankful Blossom", as 
a character is purely imaginary, the name is an act- 
ual one, and was borne by a (chronologically) re- 
mote maternal relation of mine, whose Bible with 
the written legend, " Thankful Blossom, her book", 
is still in possession of a member of the family. 

The contour of scenery and the characteristics 



150 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

of climate have, I believe, changed but little since I 
knew them between 1873 and 1876 and "Thankful 
Blossom " gazed at them from the Baskingridge 
Eoad in 1779. 

I remain, dear madam, 

Yours very sincerely. 

Bret Harte. 

Two of the farms from which Bret Harte may 
have drawn the inspiration for the surroundings of 
his story, may be seen on the Washington Valley 
road as you turn to the right from the road to 
Mendham. Turning again to the left, — before you 
come to the junction of the road which crosses at 
right angles to the Whatnong House, where Mr. 
Harte passed a summer, — you come upon the Carey 
Farm, the house built by the grandfather of the 
present occupants. There you see the stone wall, 
— crumbling now, — over which the bewitching 
Mistress Thankful talked and clasped hands with 
Captain Allen Brewster of the Connecticut Contin- 
gent. The elm-tree, upon whose bark was inscribed 
''the effigy of a heart, divers initials and the legend 
' Thine Forever' ", has been lately cut down and the 
trunk decorated with growing plants and flowers. 

We see the black range of the Orange Hills 
over which the moon slowly lifted herself as the 
Captain waited for his love, " looking at him, 
blushing a little, as if the appointment were her 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 151 

own". We see also the faintly-lit field beyond, — 
the same field in which, further on in the story 
after Brewster's treachery, Major Van Zandt and 
Mistress Thankful picked the violets together and 
doing so, revealed their hearts' love to one another 
on that 3rd of May, 1780. 

The orchard is there, still bearing apples, but 
the ''porch" and the "mossy eaves" evidently be- 
long to the next farm-house, which we find exactly 
on the corner at the junction of the two roads. It 
is the old Smith farm.^ The original house has a 
brick addition, with the inscription among the 
bricks, "1812". It is on the wooden part, built 
earlier and evidently an ancient structure, that we 
see the "porch and eaves". 

We select from "Thankful Blossom" the very 
fine pen portrait of Washington and his military 
family at the Headquarters. 

THANKFUL BLOSSOM. 
A Romance of the Jerseys, 



CHAPTER III. 



The rising Avind, which had ridden much faster 

*This farm has been in the possession of the Smith family since about 
1797, when it was purchased by John Smith, of Col. Jacob Arnold, of the 
" Light Horse Guaids." 



152 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

than Mistress Thankful, had increased to a gale by 
the time it reached Morristown. It swept through 
the leafless maples, and rattled the dry bones of the 
elms. It whistled through the quiet Presbyterian 
churchyard, as if trying to arouse the sleepers it 
had known in days gone by. It shook the blank, 
lustreless windows of the Assembly Eooms over the 
Freemason's Tavern, and wrought in their gusty 
curtains moving shadows of those amply petticoat- 
ed dames and tightly hosed cavaliers who had 
swung in "Sir Roger," or jigged in "Money Musk," 
the night before. 

But I fancy it was around the isolated "Ford 
Mansion," better known as the "Headquarters," 
that the wind wreaked its grotesque rage. It howl- 
ed under its scant eaves, it sang under its bleak 
porch, it tweaked the peak of its front gable, it 
whistled through every chink and cranny of its 
square, solid, unpicturesque structure. Situated on 
a hill- side that descended rapidly to the Whippany 
River, every summer zephyr that whispered through 
the porches of the Morristown farm houses charged 
as a stiff breeze upon the swinging half doors and 
windows of the "Ford Mansion"; every wintry 
wind became a gale that threatened its security. 
The sentinel who paced before its front porch knew 
from experience when to linger under its lee, and 
adjust his tlii'en(lV)are outer coat to the bitter North 
wind. 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 155 

Within the house something of this cheeiiess- 
ness prevailed. It had an ascetic gloom, which the 
scant fire-light of the reception room, and the dy- 
ing embers on the dining-room hearth, failed to dis- 
sipate. The central hall was broad, and furnished 
plainly with a few rush-bottomed chairs, on one of 
which half dozed a black body-servant of the com- 
mander-in-chief. Two officers in the dining-room, 
drawn close by the chimney corner, chatted in un- 
dertones, as if mindful that the door of the draw- 
ing-room was open, and their voices might break in 
upon its sacred privacy. The swinging light in the 
hall partly illuminated it, or rather glanced gloom- 
ily from the black polished furniture, the lustreless 
chairs, the quaint cabinet, the silent spinet, the 
skeleton-legged centre-table, and finally upon the 
motionless figure of a man seated by the fire. 

It was a figure since so well known to the civil- 
ized world, since so celebrated in print and paint- 
ing, as to need no description here. Its rare combi- 
nation of gentle dignity with profound force, of a 
set resoluteness of purpose with a philosophical pa- 
tience, have been so frequently delivered to a peo- 
ple not particularly remarkable for these qualities, 
that I fear it has too often provoked a spirit of 
playful aggression, in which the deeper underlying 
meaning was forgotten. So let me add that in 
manner, physical equipoise, and even in the mere 
details of dress, this figure indicated a certain aris- 



156 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

tocratic exclusiveness. It was the presentment of a 
king, — a king who by the irony of circumstances 
was just then waging war against all kingship ; a 
ruler of men, who just then was fighting for the 
right of these men to govern themselves, but whom 
by his own inherent right he dominated. From the 
crown of his powdered head to the silver buckle of 
his shoe he was so royal that it was not strange his 
brother George of England and Hanover — ruling by 
accident, otherwise impiously known as the ' ' grace 
of God " — could find no better way of resisting his 
power than by calling him " Mr. Washington. " 

The sound of horses' hoofs, the formal chal- 
lenge of sentry, the grave questioning of the officer 
of the guard, followed by footsteps upon the porch, 
did not apparently disturb his meditation. Nor did 
the opening of the outer door and a charge of cold 
air into the hall that invaded even the privacy of 
the reception room, and brightened the dying em- 
bers on the hearth, stir his calm pre-occupation. 
But an instant later there was the distinct rustle of 
a feminine skirt in the hall, a hurried whispering 
of men's voices, and then the sudden apparition of 
a smooth, fresh-faced young officer over the 
shoulder of the unconscious figure. 

''I beg your pardon, general," said the officer 
doubtingly, "but" 

*'You are not intruding. Colonel Hamilton," 
said the general quietly. 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 157 

u xj^ere is a young lady without who wishes an 
audience of your Excellency. 'Tis Mistress Thank- 
ful Blossom, — the daughter of Abner Blossom, 
charged with treasonous practice and favoring the 
enemy, now in the guard-house at Morristown." 

"Thankful Blossom?" repeated the general 
interrogatively. 

" Your Excellency doubtless remembers a little 
provincial beauty and a famous toast of the coun- 
tryside — the Cressida of our Morristown epic, Avho 
led our gallant Connecticut Captain astray " 

"You have the advantages, besides the better 
memory of a younger man, colonel," said Washing- 
ton, with a playful smile that slightly reddened the 
cheek of his aide-de-camp. "Yet I think I have 
heard of this phenomenon. By all means, admit 
her — and her escort." 

"She is alone, general," responded the subor- 
dinate. 

"Then the more reason why we should be po- 
lite," returned Washington, for the first time alter- 
ing his easy posture, rising to his feet, and lightly 
clasping his ruffled hands before him. "We must 
not keep her waiting. Give her access, my dear 
colonel, at once ; and even as she came. — alone." 

The aide-de-camp bowed and withdrew. In 
another moment the half opened door swung wide 
to Mistress Thankful Blossom. 

She was so beautiful in her simple riding-dress. 



158 Noreh'sis and Story-WrHers. 

so quaint and original in that very beauty, and^ 
above all, so teeming with a certain vital earnest- 
ness of purj30se just positive and audacious enough 
to set off that beauty, that the grave gentleman be- 
fore her did not content himself with the usual for- 
mal inclination of courtesy, but actuahy advanced, 
and, tailing her cold little hand in his, graciously 
led her to the chair he had just vacated. 

"Even if your name were not known to me,. 
Mistress Thankful," said the commander-in-chief, 
looking down upon her with grave politeness, '^na- 
ture has, methinks, spared you the necessity of any 
introduction to the courtesy of a gentleman. But 
how can I especially serve you ? " 



Wi^^ l^enrietta a^oijoart i^oltiidj. 



It is a curious fact that although New Jersey 
was the theatre of some of the most stirring scenes 
of the Eevolution, only two stories seem to have 
been written, founded on the events of those times, 
if we except the ''Water Witch", by J. Fenimore 
Cooper, in which we find the location of Alderman 



Novelists and Story- Writers. 1 59 

Van Beverout's house, the villa of the ''Lust dn 
Eust " to be on the Atlantic Highlands, between the 
Shrewsbury river and the sea. This spot is point- 
ed out to-day and w^as associated with the smug- 
glers of that period. The otlier two stories are 
"Thankful Blossom", by Bret Harte, and "Hannah 
Arnett's Faith", a Centennial Story, by Miss Hold- 
ich, which latter, as a singular history attaches to 
it, we shall give at length. 

Miss Holdich was born at Middletown, Conn., 
but left there too young to remember much about 
it and she lived in New York until ISTS w^hen she 
came to Morristown. When she was not quite two 
years of age her mother discoyered she could read, 
and since she was seventeen, she has written, for 
various w^ell-known papers and periodicals, more 
children's stories than anything else, she tells us, 
but also a good many stories for Harpers'' Magazine 
and Bazar, — also poems, by one of which she is 
represented in our group of poets. 

" Hannah Arnett's Faith " is a true story of the 
author's great grandmother, famihar to all the fam- 
ily from infancy. In ISTG Miss Holdich published 
it, as a Centennial story, in The New York Observer. 
In 1890, a lady of Washington published it as her 
own in The Washington Post, (she asserts that she 
did not intend it as a plagiarism but used it merely 
as a historical incident). The story was recognized 
and letters written to, and published in. The Posi, 



160 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

giving Miss Holdich's name, as the true author. 
However, this pubhcation of the story led to a curi- 
ous result, and gave the story a wide celebrity. In 
a published statement. Miss Mary Desha (one of the 
Vice Presidents of the D. A. E.) announces that 
''the Society of the Daughters of the American 
Revolution sprang from this story *\ 

"On July 21st'', Miss Desha says, after the 
publication of the story in The Washington Post, 
accompanied by an appeal for a woman's organiza- 
tion to commemorate events of the Eevolution in 
which women had bravely borne their part, — "a 
letter from William 0. McDowell of ]N"ew Jersey, 
was published, in which he said that he was the 
great grandson of Hannah Arnett and called on the 
women of America to form a society of their own, 
since they had been excluded from the Society of 
the Sons of the American Revolution at a meeting 
held in Louisville, Kentucky, April 30th, 1S90 ". 

Miss Holdich soon after this was urgently re- 
quested to become Regent of the Morristown Chap- 
ter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 
which position she accepted and holds to-day. 

HAKNAH ARNETT'S FAITH. 

A Centennial Story. 

1770-1876. 

The days were at their darkest and the hearts 



Novelists and story -Writers. 161 

of our grandfathers were weighed down with doubt 
and despondency. Defeat had followed defeat for 
the American troo]:>s, until the army had become 
demoralized and discouragement had well-nigh be- 
come despair. Lord Cornwallis, after his victory at 
Fort Lee, had marched his army to Elizabethtown 
(Dec. 1776) where they were now encamped. On 
the 30th of November the brothers Howe had issued 
their celebrated proclamation, which offered protec- 
tion to all who within sixty days should declare 
themselves peaceable British subjects and bind 
themselves neither to take up arms against their 
Sovereign, nor to encourage others to do so. It was 
to discuss the advisability of accepting this offered 
protection that a group of men had met in one of 
the large old houses of which Elizabethtown was. 
at that time, full. 

We are apt to think of those old times as days 
of unmitigated loyalty and courage ; of our ances- 
ters as unfaltering heroes, swerving never in the 
darkest hours from the narrow and thorny path 
which conscience bade them tread. Yet human na- 
ture is human nature in all ages, and if at times the 
"old fashioned fire" burned low even i]i manly 
hearts, and profound discouragement palsied for a 
time the most ardent courage, w^hat are we that 'we 
should wonder at or condemn them ? Of this peri- 
od Dr. Ashbel Green wrote : 

"I heard a man of some shrewdness once say 



162'' Novelists and Story- Writers. 

that when the British troops over- ran the State of 
Xew Jersey, in the closing part of the year 1TT6, 
the whole popnlation could have been bought for 
eighteen-pence a head."' 

The debate was long and grave. Some were 
for accepting the offered terms at once ; others hung 
back a little, but all had at length agreed that it 
was the only thing to be done. Hope, courage, loy- 
alty, faith, honor — all seemed swept away upon the 
great flood of panic which had overspread the land. 
There was one listener, however, of whom the ea- 
ger disputants were ignorant, one to whose heart 
their wise reasoning was very far from carrying 
conviction. Mrs. Arnett, the wife of the host, was 
in the next room, and the sound of the debate liad 
reached her where she sat. She had listened in si- 
lence, until, carried away by her feelings, she could 
bear no more, and springing to her feet she pushed 
open the parlor door and confronted the assembled 
group. 

Can you fancy the scene ? A large low I'oom, 
with the dark, heavily carved furniture of the peri- 
od, dimly lighted by the tall wax candles and the 
wood fires which blazed in the huge fire place. 
Around the table, the group of men — pallid, gloomy, 
dejected, disheartened. In the doorway the figure 
of the woman, in the antique costume with which, 
in those latter days, we have become so familiar. 
Can you not fancy the |)roud poise of her head, the 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 163 

indigDant li^ht of her blue eyes, the crisp, clear 
tones of her voice, the majesty and defiance and 
scorn which clothed her as a p-arment ? 

The men all started up at her entrance ; the 
sight of a ghost could hardly have caused more per- 
turbation than did that of this little woman. Her 
husband advanced hastily. She had no business 
here ; a woman should know her place and keep it. 
Questions of politics and political expediency were 
not for them ; but he would shield her as far as pos- 
sible, and point out the impropriety of her conduct 
afterwards, when they should be alone. So he went 
quickly up to her with a warning whisper : 

^^HaQuah ! Hannah ! this is no place for you. 
We do not want you here just now ; " and would 
have taken her hand to lead her from the room. 

She was a docile little woman and obeyed his 
Avishes in general without a word : but now it seem- 
ed as if she scarcely saw him, as with one hand she 
pushed him gently back and turned to the startled 
group. 

"Have you made your decision, gentlemen?" 
she asked. " Have you chosen the part of men or 
of traitors ? " 

It was putting tiie question too broadly, — so 
like a woman, seeing only the bare, ugly facts, and 
quite forgetting the delicate drapery whicii was in- 
tended to veil them. It was an awkward position 
to put tliem in, and they stannnered and bungled 



164 Novelists and Story-Writers, 

over their answer, as men in a false position will. 
The reply came at last, mingled with explanations 
and excuses and apologies. 

'•'Quite hopeless; absurd for a starving, half- 
clothed, undisciplined army like ours to attempt to 
compete with a country like England's unlimited 
resources. Eepulsed everywhere — ruined ; throw- 
ing away life and fortune for a shadow ;" — you 
know the old arguments with which men try to 
prop a staggering conscience. 

Mrs. Arnett listened in silence until the last ab- 
ject word was spoken. Then she inquired simply : 
''But what if we should live, after all ? " 

The men looked at each other, but no one 
spoke. 

"Hannah! Hannah!" urged her husband. 
"Do you not see that these are no questions for 
you ? We are discussing what is best for us, for 
you, for all. Women have no share in these topics. 
Go to your spinning-wheel and leave us to settle af- 
fairs. My good little wife, you are making your- 
self ridiculous. Do not expose yourself in this way 
before our friends." 

His words passed her ear like the idle wind ; 
not even the quiver of an eyelash showed that she 
heard them. 

"Can you not tell me?" she said in the same 
strangely quiet voice. "If, after all, God does not 
let the right perish, — if America should win in the 



Novelists and Story- Writers. 165 

conflict, after you have thrown yourself upon Brit- 
ish clemency, where will you be then ? " 

" Then T' spoke one hesitating voice. " Why, 
then, if it ever could be, w^e should be rained. We 
must leave the country forever. But it is absurd to 
think of such a thing. The struggle is an utterly 
hopeless one. We have no men, no money, no 
arms, no food, and England has everything." 

"iS^o," said Mrs. Aruett ; "you have forgotten 
one thing which England has not and which we 
have — one thing which outweighs all England's 
treasures, and that is, the Eight. God is on our 
side, and every volley from our muskets is an echo 
of His voice. We are poor and weak and few; but 
God is flghting for us. We entered into this strug- 
gle w^ith pure hearts and prayerful lips. We had 
counted the cost and were willing to pay the price, 
were it our heart's blood. And now — now, because 
for a time the day is going against us, you would 
give up all and sneak back, like cravens, to kiss the 
feet that have trampled upon us ! And you call 
yourselves men — the sons of those who gave up 
home and fortune and fatherland to make for 
themselves and for dear liberty a resting-place in 
the wilderness ? Oh, shame upon you, cowards !" 

Her words had rushed out in a fiery flood, 
which her husband had vainly striven to check. I 
do not know how Mrs. Arnett looked, but I fancy 
her a little fair woman, with kindly blue eyes and 



166 Koi'eh'sfs and Storij' Wriiers. 

delicate features, — a tender and loving- little soul, 
whose scornful, blazing words must have seemed 
to her amazed hearers like the inspired fury of a 
pythoness. Are we not all prophets at times — 
prophets of good or evil, according to our bent, and 
with more power than we ourselves suspect to work 
out the fulfillment of our own prophecies ? Who 
shall say how far this fragile woman aided to stay 
the wave of desolation which was spreading over 
the land ? 

'^Gentlemen," said good Mr. Arnett uneasily, 
' ' I beg you to excuse this most unseemly interrup- 
tion to our council. My wife is beside herself, I 
think. You all know her and know that it is not 
her wont to meddle with politics, or to brawl and 
bluster. To-morrow she will see her folly, but now 
I pray your patience. " 

Already her words had begun to stir the slum- 
bering manhood in the bosoms of those who heard 
her. Enthusiasm makes its own fitting times. No 
one replied ; each felt too keenly his own pettiness, 
in the light cast upon them by this woman's brave 
words. 

" Take your protection, if you will," she went 
on, after waiting in vain for a reply. "Proclaim 
yourselves traitors and cowards, false to your coun- 
try and your God, but horrible will be the judg- 
ment you will bring upon your heads and the heads 
of those tliat love you. I tell you that England 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 167 

will never conquer. I know it and feel it in every 
fibre of my heart. Has God led us so far to desert 
us now ? Will He, who led our fathers across the 
stormy winter sea, forsake their children who 
have put their trust in Him ? For me, I stay with 
my country, and my hand shall never touch the 
hand, nor my heart cleave to the heart of him who 
shames her." 

She flashed upon her husband a gaze which 
dazzled him like sudden lightning. 

"Isaac, we have lived together for twenty 
years, and for all of them I have been a true and 
loving wife to you. But I am the child of God and 
of my country, and if you do this shameful thing, 
I will never again own you for my husband." 

'^My dear wife!" cried the husband aghast, 
''you do not know what you are saying. Leave 
me. for such a thing as this ?" 

" For such a thing as this ?" she cried scornful- 
ly. "What greater cause could there be ? I mar- 
ried a good man and true, a faithful friend and a 
loyal Christian gentleman, and it needs no divorce 
to sever me from a traitor and a coward. If you 
take your protection you lose your wife, and I — I 
lose my husband and my home !" 

With the last words the thrilling voice broke 
suddenly with a pathetic fall and a film crept over 
the proud blue eyes. Perhaps this little touch of 
womanly weakness moved her hearers as deeply as 



168 Novelists and Story-Writers. 

her brave, scornful words. They were not all cow- 
ards at heart, only touched by the dread finger of 
panic, which, now and then, will paralyze the bra- 
vest. Some had struggled long against it and only 
half yielded at last. And some there were to whom 
old traditions had never quite lost their power, 
whose superstitious consciences had never become 
quite reconciled to the stigma of Rebel, though rea- 
son and judgment both told them that, borne for 
the cause for which they bore it, it was a title of 
nobility. The words of the little woman had gone 
straight to each heart, be its main- spring what it 
might. Gradually the drooping heads were raised 
and the eyes grew bright with manliness and reso- 
lution. Before they left the house that night, they 
had sworn a solemn oath to stand by the cause they 
had adopted and the land of their birth, through 
good or evil, and to spurn the offers of their tyrants 
and foes as the deadliest insults. 

Some of the names of those who met in that 
secret council were known afterwards among those 
who fought their country's battles most nobly, 
who died upon the field of honor, or rejoiced with 
pure hearts when the day of triuuiph came at last. 
The name of the little woman figured on no heroic 
roll, but was she the less a heroine 1 

This story is a true one, and, in this Centennial 
year, when every crumb of information in regard 



Novelists and Story- Writers. 169 

to those old days of struggle and heroism is eagerly 
gathered up, it may not be without interest. 



iftrr.Q. irBiviam ^Q\m l^arri^. 



Mrs. Harris was well known during her stay 
in Morristown and is remembered as a charming 
woman. ^'In Morristown'', she writes, she found 
'^restoration to health, many friends, and much en- 
303^ment", — adding "I think I shall always love the 
place". 

Mrs. Harris has been a voluminous writer of 
stories and novels. Her first work, '^Eutledge", 
published without her name, excited immediate 
and wide attention and established h^r reputation. 
Since then, she has given to the world, among oth- 
ers, the following volumes : "Louie's Last Term at 
St. Mary's"; ''The Sutherlands"; "Frank War- 
rington"; "St. Philip's"; " Eound-hearts " (for 
children): "Richard Vaudermarck"; "A Perfect 
Adonis"; "Missy"; "Happy -go-Lucky"; "Phoebe"; 
"A Rosary for Lent " and "Dear Feast of Lent". 

The selection given to represent Mrs. Harris in 



ITO Novelists and Story-Writers. 

Stedman and Hutchinson's "Library of Ainerican 
Literature" is a chapter from her novel, " Missy". 
An appropriate selection for this volume would be 
an extract from her chapter on "Marrowfat" (Mor- 
ristown) in her novel, 'Thoebe", published in 188^. 
The two principal characters of the book, Bar- 
ry and Phoebe, lately married, are described in Mar- 
rowfat, going to church on Sunday morning : 

EXTEACT FROM "PHOEBE." 

They w^ere rather late ; that is, the bell had 
stopped ringing, and the pews were all filled, and 
the clergyman was just entering from the sacristy, 
when they reached the door. It was an old stone 
church, with many vines about it, greenswai'd and 
fine trees. '^' ^ The organist was playing 
a low and unobtrusive strain ; the clergyman, hav- 
ing just entered, was on his knees, w^here unfortu- 
nately, the congregation had not followed him. 
They were all ready to criticise the young people 
who now walked down the silent aisle ; very far 
down, too, they were obliged to walk. It was the 
one moment in the week when they would be most 
conspicuous. ''^" ^' Barry looked a greater 

swell than ever, and his wife was so much hand- 
somer than anybody else in Marrowfat that it was 
simple nonsense to talk of ignoring the past. If 
one did not want to be walked over by these young 



Novelists and Story ■ Writers. 171 

persons they must be put down ; self preservation 
joined hands with virtuous indignation ; to cancel 
the past would be to sacrifice the future. Scarce a 
mother in Marrowfat but felt a bitter sense of in- 
jury as she thought of Barry. Not only had he set 
the worst possible example to her sons, but he had 
overlooked the charms of her daughters ; not only 
had he outraged public opinion, but he had disap- 
pointed private hopes. Society should hold him to 
a strict account ; Marrowfat was not to be trifled 
with when it came to matters of principle. 

It was an old town, with ante-Eevolutiouary 
traditions ; there was no mushroom crop allowed 
to spring up about it. New people were permitted 
but only on approbation of the old. It was not the 
thing to be very rich in Marrowfat, it was only tol- 
erated ; it was the thing to be a little cultivated, a 
little clever, very well born, and very loyal to Mar- 
rowfat. It was not exactly provincial ; it was too 
near the great city and too much mixed up with it 
to be that ; but it was very local and it had its own 
traditions in an unusual degree. That people grew 
a little narrow and very much interested in the af- 
fairs of the town, after living there awhile, was not 
to be wondered at. It is always the result of sub- 
urban life, and one finds it difficult to judge, be- 
tween having one's nature green like a lane, even if 
narrow, or hard and broad like a city pavement, 
out of which all the greenness has been trampled 
and all the narrowness thrown down. 



172 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

The climate of the place was dry and pure ; 
it was the fashion for the city doctors to send their 
patients there ; and many who came to cough, re- 
mained to build. The scenery was lovely ; you 
looked down pretty streets and saw blue hills be- 
yond ; the sidewalks w^ere payed and the town was 
lit by gas, but the pavements led you past charm- 
ing homes to bits of view that reminded you of 
Switzerland, and the inoffensive lamp-posts were 
hidden under great trees by day, and by night you 
only thought how glad you were to see them. The 
drives were endless, the roads good ; there were liv- 
ery-stables, hotels, skilled confectioners, shops of all 
kinds, a library, a pretty little theatre, churches of 
every shade of faith, schools of every degree of pre- 
tension ; lectures in winter, concerts in summer, 
occasional plays all the year ; two or three local 
journals, the morning papers from the city at your 
breakfast table ; fast trains, telegraphs, telephones, 
all the modern amenities of life under your very 
hand ; and yet it was the country, and there were 
peaceful hills and deep woods, and the nights were 
as still as Paradise. Can it be wondered at that, 
like St. Peter's at Rome it had an atmosphere of 
its own, and defied the outer changes of the tem- 
perature ? 

Marrowfat certainly was a law unto itself. 
Why certain people were great people, in its 
view, it would be difficult to say. Why the tele- 



Novelists and Story- Writers. 173 

graphs, and the telephones, and the fashionable m- 
valids from the city and the rich people who bought 
and built in its neighborhood, did not change its 
standards of value, one can only guess. But it had 
a stout moral sentiment of its own ; it had resisted 
innovations and done what seemed it good for a 
long while ; and when you have made a good moral 
sentiment the fashion, or the fact, by long use, you 
have done a good thing. Marrowfat never tolera- 
ted married flirtations, looked askance on extremes 
in dress or entertainment, dealt severely with the 
faults of youth. All these things existed more or 
less within its borders, of course, but they were evil 
doings and not approved doings. 

In a certain sense Marrowfat was the most 
charitable towm in the world ; in another the most 
uncharitable. If you were to have any misfortune 
befall you. Marrowfat Avas the place to go to have 
it in ; if you lost your money, if you broke your 
back, if your children died, if your house burned 
down. Marrowfat swathed you in flowers, bathed 
you in sympathy, took you out to drive, came and 
read to you, if need were took up subscriptions for 
you. But if you did anything disgraceful or dis- 
creditable, it is safe to say you would better have 
done it in any other place. 



174 Novelists and Story -Writers. 



Miss Mcintosh was born in the httle village of 
Sunbuiy, Georgia, in ISOl. She was educated by 
an old Oxford tutor who was teacher and pastor 
combined and she led the class of boys with whonn 
she studied. After her mother's death, (her father 
had died in her infancy), she came to the north,, 
wholly for the purpose of studying and improving-; 
herself. 

Her first stories were for children. Then ap- 
peared two very successful tales for youth ; ''Con- 
quest and Self -Conquest," and "Praise and Princi- 
ple". "To Seem and To Be"; "Charms and 
Counter- Charms", and their successors followed on 
during a period of twenty years. Several of her 
books were translated into both French and Ger- 
man and all were widely read abroad, but the joy 
in her work lay in the rich harvest fur good which 
was constantly made known to her. In the year 
before her death, many letters came to her from 
women then married and heads of families, thank- 
ing her for first impulses to better things arising 
from her words. 

Not long ago, Marion Harland, (Mrs. Terhune)^ 
wrote to a dear friend of this author, that she owed 
to Miss Mcintosh the strongest influences of her 



Novelists and Story-Writers. 175 

youDg life and those which had determined its bent 
and development. 

Miss Mcintosh was intensely interested in the 
maintenance of Republican sim])licity and purity of 
morals and wrote a strong address, which was 
widely circulated, to the "Women of America" 
which led to a correspondence with the then 
Duchess of Sutherland and other English women 
who were interested in the elevation of women and 
of the family life. 

She died in Morristown, at the residence of 
her devoted niece and namesake, Mrs. James Far- 
ley Cox, and soothed by her loving ministrations, — 
after a protracted illness, lasting over a year. Mrs. 
Cox tells us, "she loved Morristown and said 
amidst great pain, that her last year, was, despite 
all, the happiest of her life *'. 

"Lofty and Lowly"; "Charms and Counter- 
Charms ", and " To Seem and To Be *', are all alike 
noble books. Miss Mcintosh seems a woman of 
strong creative powers, with a delicacy of feeling 
and a fine touch of womanliness, united to a cer- 
tain delicate perception of character. She did not 
write from what we now so grandly call types, or, 
for the sake of displayiog a surgical dissection of 
character ; but her books are groupings of individu- 
als as real as those we meet in dail}' life. There are 
no strained situations, no fanciful make-ups, and no 
unnatural poses. There are the lovely Alice Mont- 



176 Novelists and St or y- Writers. 

rose with a strangely beautiful blending of delicate 
refinement and womanly strength, rising to meet 
every requirement of her varied life ; Mr. Gaston, 
the New England merchant ; Eichard Grahame the 
hero of "Lofty and Lowly 'V with some telling con- 
trasts in the way of villains and weaker characters. 
Beside this, Miss Mcintosh has a strong sympathy 
for nature and all through her stories she stops, as 
it were to show us the flowering fields and summer 
skies and, as she draws us to her, we feel the beat- 
ings of her own warm human heart going out as it 
does to the young and inexperienced. 

Again, Miss Mcintosh gives in her stories faith- 
ful representations of life both north and south, be- 
fore the war, forty years ao'o. These pictures are 
of peculiar value as few books preserve pictorial 
records of that condition of life now passed away 
forever. She had a power in massing details and 
binding them by a thread of common interest and 
common action. She seemed in her writings, like 
one who had been si)iritually "lifted higher'' and 
like all such spirits she could not but draw others 
after her. Her books in past years have had wide 
and lasting influence and it is a pity they could not 
now be substituted for much of the miserable lite- 
rature which only pleases a passing hour or teaches 
false views of life. 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 177 



Mrs. Cox, long a resident of Morristown, was 
named for the dear aunt to whom the preceding 
sketch relates, and, as is often the case with name- 
sakes for some unexplained reason, the mantle of 
Miss Mcintosh's genius fell upon her. 

From girlhood, Mrs. Cox has written for vari- 
ous papers and magazines. Some years ago, the 
Appletons published a little volume of hers for very 
young children, called '^A year with Maggie and 
Emma", which was afterwards translated into 
French. "Eaymond Kershaw", published in 18S8, 
is a volume of larger size. In March, 1890, The 
YoidK's Companion published a short story found- 
ed on an adventure of the author's father with La- 
fitte, the famous pirate. It Avas entitled "A Brave 
Middy", and won a prize of $500, in a contest of 
similar tales. 

In the current numbers of Wide Aivake from 
December to June 1891-'92 appeared a story of ten 
chapters called ^'Jack Brereton's Three Months' 
Service", which, in August, 1892, was brought out 
in book form by D. Lothrop & Co., Boston. The 
idea most prominent in this story, the "motif", is 
the reflex action of a soldier's enlistment on his de- 



178 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

sertecl family. "I chanced", says the author, 'Ho 
thoroughly see and know what sudden three months^ 
calls entailed on the volunteer and those who fought 
the battle out at home, and I enjoyed telhng what 
is, in spirit and in most details, a true story, though 
not as connected with such people as the story de- 
scribes". "Brave Ben Broughton", written by re- 
quest for the McClure Syndicate, and a Folk Lore 
story are the latest from the pen of Mrs. Cox. 

" Eaymond Kershaw ; a Story of Deserved Suc- 
cess", is a touching narrative commencing in pathos 
and ending in heroism ; a lesson to every boy and 
girl who, plunged suddenly and unexpectedly into 
difficulty, have to face the hard realities of life. 
There is an extremely fine passage in this book. 
Winthrop, the author of " John Brent ", could not 
have rendered it better. It is the description of a 
maddened bull, "Meadow King", which Paul Pot- 
ter might have painted. It needs no comment. 
Spirited and full of life, ever actor in the scene per- 
forms his or her part witii a truthfulness which is 
wonderful. Many a more voluminous writer than 
Mrs. Cox has done far less superior work than this 
truly great scene exhibits in its dramatic attitudes. 



EXTRACT FROM "RAYMOND KERSHAW.' 



After country fashion, every farmer for miles 
around came to look at "Kershaw's new bull". 
Without mistake they saw a royal animal. With- 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 179 

■out a spot to mar his jet-black coat, through which 
the great veins were visible hke netted cords, his 
smah, strong, sinewy legs, all muscle and bone, 
carried his heavy body as lightly as if he were a 
horse, and his flanks and shoulders, when James 
pushed up his supple skin w^th his hand, felt as if 
he wore a velvet coat over an iron frame ; his neck, 
not too short for grace, was still very heavy and 
muscular, with wrinkles like necklaces encircling- 
it, and his fiery eyes glowed, far apart, under his 
tight-curled poll, from which those mischievous 
horns, sharp, long and slightly out-curving, stood 
in beautiful harmony with the whole outline ; and 
his great lashing tail, with its tasselated end, com- 
pleted his perfections. 

All went well for a fortnight, after which, on a 
hot Sunday morning all drove off to church leaving 
Mrs. Kershaw and Mary at home together. 

(Mrs. Kershaw, the sweet and tenderly-loved 
invalid mother, was half -lying in her chair and 
Mary sat, Bible in hand, on the first step of the 
piazza near her, when) 

Suddenly a roar struck upon their ears with 
horror ; and, filled with one of those blind accesses 
of rage to which his race is so strangely subject, 
tearing, bellowing along, up the hillside came Mea- 
dow King. As he halted for a breath behind the 
fence, he was like one's night-dreams of such a 
creature, — an ideal of pure brute force and wrath. 



180 Novelists and Story -Writers. 

His head tossed high, he gave a prolonged bellow, 
and leaped the high bars without an effort. 

Mary rose without a word^ and laying her Bi- 
ble on Mrs. Kershaw's lap, stood white as the dead 
to watch him ; destroying the delicate things in his 
way, he ran madly towards the sheds. Mary gave 
silent thanks that he had not taken to the road. 
The high gates of the cow-yards stood wide open, 
and through them he rushed. 

''Miss Kershaw, I've got to shut them gates !'^ 
said Mary. 

''Oh, don't think of it, Mary !" said Mrs. Ker- 
shaw, her hands clasped and trembling. "Are you 
not afraid ?" 

"Skeered!" said Mary, — "I'm skeered out of 
my life ; hut them gates has got to be shut ! " 

Down in the yard the voice kept up its dreadful 
din. Mary rushed down the steps like a flash, and 
as suddenly back again. ' ' Miss Kershaw, would 
you mind just kissing me once .^" A quick warm 
touch on her pale lips, and she was gone ; it was all 
in the space of a long breath. * ''^ Her way 
was down a slight inclination and her swift, light 
feet carried her with incredible speed. One terrifi- 
ed glance at the open gate showed her the enemy 
lashing himself at the farther end of the enclosure, 
with the scattered dust and leaves rising about hinci 
as he pawed the ground. The gates were heavy and 
wide apart ; the right-hand leaf swung shut, and 



Novelists and Story- Writers. 181 

then, darting across the opening, she pushed the 
left forward and clasped it, and springing up drew 
down the heavy cross-bar, and the gates were shut ! 

^ ^ "He's in, Miss Kershaw," said Mary, 
" but the worst is to come ! How under the sun 
can they ketch him ? Can you keep still if I go up 
the road and watch for 'em ? They're most sure to 
drive in by the farm-yard gate if they come Ches- 
ter way, and if they come upon him unbeknownst. 
Heaven help 'em ! " 

"Go, Mary, go ; don't think about me at all," 
said Mrs. Kershaw. ^ '"" ^ 

"Not until you are in your chair, and promise 
to stay there, ma'am," said Mary. "Young Doc- 
tor's got trouble enough on his hands without your 
bein' hurt. If you hear Meadow King tearing the 
gates down, and me a-screechin' my life out, don't 
you stir ! " 

(Mary goes to warn them and stops their en- 
trance. James the farmer takes command. Ray- 
mond carries an axe and Bob a stick. They open 
the gates Mary had closed. The brute rushes for- 
ward. At this moment James with a rope he had 
carried, undertakes to lasso the bull but misses and 
falls back, facing the foe but pinioned in the angle 
of a beam and the side-wall ; one of the mad King's 
horns imbedded in the beam, the other projecting 
in terrible proximity, while the unspeakably angry. 



182 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

brutal face of the beast is only a few inches from 
his chest. 

At this moment, Eay seized his axe.) His hat 
had fallen off and his face was stern and ghastly 
white as he watched like a lion his gigantic prey ; 
until coming with long powerful steps close enough 
to strike, he gave an agonizing look of dread at 
James, and then brought down one tremendous 
crashing blow, straight, strong and true, between 
those cruel horns, and the Meadow King sank like 
a loosened rock upon the floor, pulling his head 
loose by his own Aveight. 



Baliiti Jloung. 



"Why, as to that, said the engineer. 
Ghosts ain't things we are apt to fear, 
Spirits don't fool with levers much, 
And throttle-valves don't take to such ; 

And as for Jim, — 

What happened to him 
Was one-half fact and t'otlier half whim ! " 

— Bret Harte. 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 183 

David Young is principally known as the revi- 
ser and publisher of ''The Morristown Ghost" in 
1826, but he was also the compiler of the well- 
known "Farmer's Almanac", published first in 
1831:, and he wrote a poem of thirty-foar pages in 
two parts, entitled "The Contrast". 

He was an astronomer of considerable reputa- 
tion, and published in 1821, at Morristown (J. Mann 
Printer) a book which had a wide circulation, en- 
titled, "Lectures on the Science of Astronomy, 
Explanatory and Demonstrative, Which were First 
Delivered at various Places in New Jersey, in the 
Year 182U." By request of many of his audience, 
he tells us, this publication was made, and with the 
belief that "frequent perusals would be more ad- 
vantageous than a solitary hearing." 

The original volume of "The Morristown 
Ghost" was published in 1792, by whom, it is not 
certainly known. It gave the names of the "Soci- 
ety of eight ", their places of meeting, and all the 
proceedings of the Society. The copies were bought 
up and destroyed, says tradition, by the son of one 
of its members, one lone volume not being obtaina- 
ble, but this cannot be distinctly traced at present. 
There was published in 1876, by the Messrs. L. A. 
and B. H. Vogt, a fac-simile copy of the original his- 
tory of "The Morristown Ghost" without the 
names of the original members, "with an appendix 



184 Novelists and Story -Writers. 

compiled from the comity records". The following 
is the title page : 

^'The Morristown Ghost-; au Account of the 
Beginning, Transactions and Discovery of Eans- 
ford Eogers, who seduced many by pretended Hob- 
goblins and Apparitions and thereby extorted Mon- 
ey from their pockets. In the County of Morris 
and State of New Jersey, in the Year 1T8S. Piint- 
ed for every purchaser — ^1792". 

In the copy of 1826, the title page is as fol- 
lows : 

' ' The Wonderful History of the Morristown 
Ghost ; thoroughly and carefully revised. By Da- 
vid Young, Newark. Published by Benjamin Olds, 
for the author. I. C. Totten, Printer, 1S26." 

The author tells us in his pre~f ace he has ' ' very 
scrupulously followed the sense of the original." 
He continues : "The truth of this history will not, 
I presume, be called in question by the inhabitants 
of Morris and the adjacent counties. The facts are 
still fresh in the memories of many among us ; and 
some survive still who bore an active part in the 
scenes herein recorded." Ho continues: "For the 
further satisfaction of tlie distant reader, on this 
point, I would inform him that I am myself a na- 
tive of the County of Morris ; that I was seven 
years and seven months old wlien Rogers first emi- 
grated to this county ; and that I well remember 
hearing people talk of these affairs during their 



Novelists and Story -Writers. IS 5 

progress. Every reader may rest assured that if the 
truth of this narrative had been doubtful, I should 
have taken no pains to rescue it from oblivion." 

There seems to have been also another inter- 
mediate publication. From an ancient copy of this 
curious story, found in an old, discolored volume in 
our Morristown library, in which are compiled pa- 
pers on various subjects, (among them a " Review 
on Spiritual Manifestations"), we copy the title 
page: 

"The Morristown Ghost, or Yankee Trick, 
being a True, Interesting and Strange Narrative. 
This circumstance has excited considerable laugh- 
ter and no small degree of surprize. Printed for 
purchasers, 1814." 

The man who conducted the plot was Eansford 
Eogers, of Connecticut. He was a plausible man 
who had the power of inspiring confidence, and 
though somewhat illiterate, was ambitious to be 
thought learned and pretended, it is said, to possess 
deep knowledge of ' ' chymistry " and the power to 
dispel good and evil spirits. 

It will be remembered that Washington Irving 
remarks, in his description of the family portrait 
gallery, of Bracebridge Hall at twilight, when he 
almost hears the rustling of the brocade dresses of 
the ladies of the manor as they step out from their 
frames, — " There is an element of superstition in 
the human mind ". It seems there had long been a 



186 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

conviction prevailing that large sums of money had 
been buried during the Eevolutionary War by tor- 
ies and others in Schooley's Mountain, near by. 
There also seemed to be something of the New Eng- 
land belief in witchcraft throughout the communi- 
ty. Says the Preface of the early volume ; ^' It is 
obvious to all who are acquainted with the county 
of Morris, that the capricious notions of witchcraft 
have engaged the attention of many of its inhab- 
itants for a number of years and the existence of 
witches is adopted by the generality of the people.'^ 
And we read on page 2 1 3 of the ' ' Combined Eegis- 
ters of the First Presbyterian Church/' a record as 
follows : "Dr. John Johnes' servant Pompey, d. IT 
July, 1833, aet. 81 ; frightened to death by ghosts.'^ 

To obtain the treasure of Schooley's Mountain, 
then, was the occasion of the occurrences related 
in this story. Two gentlemen who had long been 
in search of inines, taking a tour through the coun- 
try in 1788, "providentially," says David Young, 
fell in with Eogers at Smith's Clove, and discovered 
him to be the man they were in search of, and one 
who could "reveal the secret things of darkness," 
for they, too, were "covetous of the supposed 
treasure of Schooley's Mountain." 

A society was organized by Eansford which at 
first numbered "about eight " but afterwards was 
increased to about forty. His first object was to 
convince them of the existence of the hidden treas- 



Novelists and Story Writers. 18T 

ure lying dormant in the earth at Schooley's Moun- 
tain. It seems repeated efforts had before beenu 
made to obtain the treasure, but all had proved 
abortive, for whenever they attempted to break the 
ground, it v^as said, ''there would many hob- 
goblins and apparitions appear which in a short 
time obliged them to evacuate the j^lace ". 

Eogers called a meeting of the eight and "com- 
municated to them the solemnity of the business 
and the intricacy of the undertaking and the fact 
that there had been several persons murdered and 
buried with the money in order to retain it in the 
earth. He likewise informed them that those spir- 
its must be raised and conversed with before the 
money could be obtained. He declared he could 
by his art and power raise these apparitions and 
that the whole company might hear him converse 
with them and satisfy themselves there was no de- 
ception. This was received with belief and admira- 
tion by the whole company without ever investi- 
gating whether it was probable or possible. This 
meeting therefore terminated with great assurance, 
they all being confident of the abilities, knowledge 
and powers of Rogers ". To confirm the illusion of 
his supernatural power, Rogers had made chemical 
compositions of various kinds, of wdiich, ''some, by 
being buried in the earth for many hours, would 
break and cause great explosions which appeared 
dismal in the night and would cause great timidity.. 



188 Novelists and Story -Writers. 

The company were all anxious to proceed and much 
elevated with such uncommon curiosities ". A 
night was therefore appointed for the whole com- 
pany to convene. The scene which the author 
proceeds to describe is worthy of Washington Irv- 
ing in his ^'Legend of Sleepy Hollow", (see page 25 
Young's edition, 182G). The night was dark and 
the circle ''illumined only by candles caused a 
ghastly, melancholy, direful gloom through the 
woods ". The company marched round and round 
in (concentric) circles as directed, '^ with great de- 
corum" until suddenly shocked by "a most impe- 
tuous explosion from the earth a short distance 
from them ". Flames rose to a considerable height, 
^^illuminating the circumambient atmosphere and 
presenting to the eye many dreadful objects, from 
the supposed haunted grove, which were again in- 
stantaneously involved in obscurity ". Ghosts made 
their appearance and liideous groans were heard. 
These were invisible to the rest of the company but 
conversed with Kogers in their hearing and told of 
the vast treasures in their possession which they 
would not resign except under certain conditions, 
one of which was '' every man must deliver to the 
spirits twelve pounds in money". The procession 
continued 'till three o'clock in the morning, and 
" the whole company looked up to Rogers for pro- 
tection from the raging spirits. This was in the 
month of November 1788". It will be noticed that 



Novelists and Story- Writers. 189 

the money required had to be advanced in "noth- 
ing but silver or gold" for which the paper money 
circulated in New Jersey could only be exchanged 
at twenty-five per cent, discount. Yet there was a 
sort of emulation among them, ' 'who should be the 
first in delivering the money to the spirits." 

A frequent place of meeting for this company 
was what is now known as the Hathaway house 
on Flagler street, the first house on the left after 
entering Flagler street from Speedwell avenue. A 
little distance back of this house may be seen the 
stump of a tree beneath which tree, it is said, the 
money was left for the spirits. Another field used 
for the midnight marches is behind the Aber house 
on the Piersonville Eoad, and still another on the 
road between Piersonville and Eogers' school house, 
the location of which is known. Other localities 
are also known, by old residents, of the events 
recorded in this story. Mt. Kemble avenue has 
often been the actual scene of ghostly fiittings to 
and fro as well as of the famous imaginary ride to 
the Headquarters of " Thankful Blossom". Eogers 
was in the habit of wrapping himself up in a sheet, 
going to the house of a certain gentleman in the 
night, and calling him up by rapping at the doors 
and windows, and conversing in such sleek dis- 
guise that the gentleman thought he was a spirit ; 
ending his conversation also with the words : "I 
am the spirit of a just man, and am sent to give you 



190 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

information how to proceed, and to put the con- 
ducting of it into your hands ; I will be ever with 
you, and give you directions when you go amiss ;, 
therefore fear not, but go to Eogers and inform 
him of your interview with me. Fear not I am 
ever with you". 

It must be remembered that this company, at 
the first, was composed of the best and most highly 
honored citizens of Morristown, also that toward 
the last, ''the numbers increased daily of aged, ab- 
stemious, (at first material spirits were freely used 
at the nightly meetings) honest, judicious simple 
church members." 

What led finally to the discovery of the plot,, 
was, that it was ordained, " a paper of sacred 
powder, said to be some of the dust of the bodies of 
the spirits, was to be kept by every member, and 
to be preserved inviolate, One of the aged mem- 
bers, having occasion to leave home for a short 
time on some emergency, through forgetfulness 
left his paper in one of his pockets at home. His 
wife happened to find it, and out of curiosity, broke 
it open ; but, perceiving the contents, she feared ta 
touch it, lest peradventure it should have some 
connection with witchcraft. She went immediate- 
ly to Eev. Mr. , the pious clergyman of the 

congregation for his advice on the subject ; who, 
not knowing its composition, was unwilhng to 
touch it, lest it might have some operation upon 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 191 

him, and knew not what advice to give her. Her 
hushand returning declared she had ruined him 
forever by breaking open that paper, which increas- 
ed her anxiety to know its contents. Upon her 
promising not to divulge anything, he then related 
to her the whole of their proceedings, whereupon 
she declared they were serving the devil and it was 
her duty notwithstanding her promise to put an 
end to such proceediogs. Great disturbance was 
thereby caused in the company." 

It was at the house of one of the members, 
which is now standing, that Kogers was discovered 
in the following manner, as the story is told. Rog- 
ers, taking his sheet with him, rode, on a certain 
evening to this house, for the purpose of convers - 
ing with the gentleman, as a spirit. Having drank 
too freely he committed several blunders in his con- 
versation, and was not so careful as usual about 
the ghostly costume. The good wife whose sus- 
picions had been aroused, managed to peep and 
listen during the interview, and after the ghost had 
left the house she remarked to her husband, says 
tradition : '^ My dear, do spirits wear shoe buckles ? 
Those were very like Ransford Rogers' buckles". 
Rogers' foot-tracks were followed to the fence 
where his horse was tied, and the tracks of his horse 
to the house where he lived and hence to another 
house where he was found. He was apprehended 
and committed to prison, where he asserted 
his innocence so persistently that ''in a few days 



192 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

he was bailed out", says our author, " by a gentle- 
man, whom I shall call by the name of Compas- 
sion." A second time he was apprehended, when 
^'he acknowledged his faults and confessed" the 
whole matter. He, however, "absconded, and 
under the auspices of Fortune saved himself by 
flight from the malice of a host." 

So ends the, perhaps, most famous historic 
ghost story of modern times. 



fiflris, Katijauiel OtonfeHn, 

(JENNIE M. DRIXKWATER.) 



Mrs. Conklin has been a voluminous writer of 
novels and stories, published by Robert Carter & 
Brothers and by the Presbyterian Board. Before 
her marriage she was widely known as Miss Jennie 
M. Drinkwater, and her latest book, "Dorothy's Is- 
lands," published in Boston, August, 1892, bears 
that name of authorship. She has written for 
many papers and magazines, besides the books she 
has pubhshed, and of these there are twenty and 
more. Among them are "Tessa Wadsworth's Dis- 
cipline", a love story of high order and well told ; 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 193 

'*Eiie's Helps", for boys and girls, and ''Electa'^ in 
which we find a certain quality of naturalness in 
the people, and the scenes described, — a literary 
quality which is prominent in Mrs. Conklin's works. 
^'They introduce the reader", says a critic, ''to 
agreeable people, provide an atmosphere which is 
tonic and healthful and enlist interest in every 
page." Then there are "The Story of Hannah 
Marigold"; "Wildwood"; "The Fairfax Girls"; 
"From Flax to Linen" and "David Strong's Er- 
rand ", besides others, and the last one published to 
which we have referred, and from which we shall 
quote. 

Several years ago, Mrs. Conklin being out of 
health, had her attention called to the special needs 
of invalids for sympathy from the active world 
about them, and organized a society, now world- 
wide and well-known, called the "Shut-in Society". 
It is an organization of invalids throughout the 
country, and now extending beyond it, who cheer 
each other with correspondence, send letters to 
prisoners in jails and sufferers in hospitals, and do 
other good work. Nine- tenths of its membership 
never see each other, but they help make each 
other's lives to be as cheery as possible in affliction. 
The amount of comfort and consolation carried by 
this organization to many a bed-ridden or helpless 
invalid, is beyond description, and the good that 
goes out also from those quiet chambers of sickness 



194 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

to the souls who seek them, mostly by letter, is 
greater than would be easily imagined. Mrs. Conk- 
lin was president of the Society for four years from 
its organization in 1SS5, and it now numbers sev- 
eral thousand members. 

We quote from ''Dorothy's Islands ", Mrs. 
Conklin's latest book. Dorothy was a child taken 
from a New York orphan asylum and adopted by a 
lighthouse keeper and his wife. She grows up 
supposing them to be her own father and mother, 
but the mother and child are antagonistic, and it is 
impossible for them to attract one another. This 
peculiarity of nature is very well given in the first 
chapter. 

EXTEACT FEOM ''DOEOTHY'S ISLANDS." 

" When I grow up," said Dorothy '^I am going 
to find an island all green and beautiful in winter 
as well as in summer. All around it the sand wiU 
be as golden as sunshine, and the houses — the hap- 
py houses — will be hidden away in green things, 
and flowers of yellow and scarlet and white. And 
then, father, after I find it, I will come and get 
you, and we will sing, and learn poems, and do 
lovely things all day long." 

' ' You are going to do wonderful things when 
you grow up," replied the amused, tender voice 
overhead. 



Novelists and story -Writers. 195 

^' Don't all grown-up people do wonderful 
things ?" questioned child Dorothy. 

" I never did," answered the voice, not now 
either tender or amused. 

" No, you never clid,^^ broke in a woman's voice 
with harsli force, 

"I think father does beautiful things," said 
Dorothy in her warm voice. "He brought the 
sea-bird home to me, and we loved it so, but you 
threw it off with its wounded wing." 

" Let nature take care of her own things," re- 
sponded the voice that had nothing of love in its 
quality. 

' ' I'm nature's thing, " Dorothy laughed ; ' ' fath- 
er said so to-day. He said I was made out of na- 
ture and poetry." 

"It's he who puts the poetry in you ; some 
day I'll send those poetry books adrift, and then 
you will both find something practical in your 

finger ends." 

■^ -jf ^v # . -jf 

Don't hang any longer around your father ; 
poetry enough has oozed out of him to spoil you 
already ; go and pick those beans over, and put 
them in soak for to-morrow — a quart, mind you, 
and pick them over clean." 

^ * * 4f * 

She liked to pick beans when her father sat 
near reading aloud to her. He had promised to 



196 Novelists and Story -Writers. 

read to-night ''How the water conies down from 
Lodore," but she knew her mother's mood too well 
to hope for such a pleasure to-night. 

When her mother was cross, she wasn't wiUing. 
for anybody to have anything. 

But she couldn't take away what she had 
learned of it ; the child hugged herself with the 
thought repeating gleefully, — 

"Then first came one daughter, 

And then came another, 
To second and third 

The request of their brother, 
And to hear how the water 

Comes down at Lodore, 
With its rush and its roar — " 
"Dorothy, stop!" commanded her mother.. 
' ' That mutt ering makes me wild. It sounds like 
a lunatic." 

Dorothy's mouth shut itself tight ; the flash of 
defiance froui the big brown eyes her mother 
missed ; her father's observant eyes noted it. There 
was always a sigh in his heart for Dorothy, for her 
naughtiness, and for the misery she was growing 
up to. The misery was as inevitable as the grow- 
ing up. Once in his agony he had prayed the good 
Father to take the child before her heart was rent, 
or his own. 

After the gleeful music ceased the chubby fin- 
gers moved wearily, the brown head drooped ; 



Novelists and Story- Writers. 19T 

there were tears as well as sleep in the eyes that 
seemed made to hold nothing bnt sunshine. . 

(Dorothy is in bed for the night.) 

"Will you keep the door open so I can hear 
voices ? " pleaded Dorothy. 

" Why child, what ails you ?" said the mother. 

"The wind ails me, and it is so black, blacky 
black out over the water. When I find my island 
there shah be sunshine on the sea." 

"But night has to come." 

" Perhaps there will be stars there," said hope- 
ful Dorothy. 

"You may learn a 'Bible verse to-morrow, — 
' There shall be no night there.' " 

"I'll say it now: 'There shall be no night 
there.' Where is ' there ' ? " 

But her mother had left her to her new Bible 
verse and the candle-light ; and Dorothy went to- 
sleep, hoping ' ' there " did not mean heaven, for 
then what would she do when she was sleepy ? 



iHrltjs. aiatljarlne H* iSurnljam. 



A valuable contributor to the literature for 



198 Koveh'sts and Story -Writers. 

children and young people, is Mrs. Burnham. Her 
volume of "Bible Stories in Words of One Sylla- 
ble", has been of great use and influence and has no 
doubt led to the writing of other historical narra- 
tives in the same manner. 

Count Tolstoi gives a most interesting account 
of his own experience in the use of the Bible in 
teaching children. He says : "I tried reading the 
Bible to them", speaking of the children in his 
peasant's school, "and it took comi)lete possession 
of them. They grew to love the book, love study 
and love me. For the purpose of opening a new 
world to a pupil and of making him love knowledge 
before he lias knowledge, there is no book like 
the Bible." 

Mrs. Burnham has also written a number of 
children's story-books which have been warmly re- 
ceived and still continue to please and benefit the 
young. Among them are " Ernest"; " The Story 
of Maggie" and the three volumes of the " Can and 
Can't Series"; "I Can"; "I Can't", and "I'll Try". 
" Ernest" is quite a wonderful little book and has 
done much good among a large class of children. 
Mr. A. D. F. Eandolph, the New York publisher, 
who took it through several editions, gave it high 
praise to a friend just before the last edition, about 
three years ago, and Eev. Dr. Tyng the elder, late 
■of St. George's Church, New York, gave it also 
very high praise. 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 199 

We do not alwa3^s fully realize that a peculiar 
talent is required for this department in literature. 
In talking, some years ago, with a young man who 
has now become an important editor in New York, 
he said : '^It is my greatest ambition to be a good 
and interesting author of children's books ; not only 
because it requires the best writing and the best 
thought, but because no literature has a more ex- - 
tended influence and involves higher responsi- 
bilities." 

In addition to these volumes, Mrs. Burnham 
has, for many years, been an occasional contributor 
to the Churchman, Christian Union and other im- 
portant papers. 

The following extract is selected : 

EXTEACT FROM ^'I'LL TRY." 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Society. 

''Our Daisy is a singular girl," said Mrs. Bell 
to her husband the evening after Mrs. Lane's party, 
as they sat alone over the library fire, after all the 
young people had retired, and fell to talking about 
their children, as parents will. 

" Is she ? I think most parents would be glad 
to have a daughter as 'singular.' " 

"Yes, I knew you would say that ; and I ap- 



200 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

predate her as highly as you do ; but nevertheless, 
sometimes I am puzzled to know what to do with 
her. If she gets an idea into that quiet little head 
of hers, it is hard to modify it." 

"Well, what is it now ?" 

" It's just this. I don't believe she will ever be 
willing to go out anywhere, or even have company 
at home. I proposed to her to-day that we should 
have a little company next week, and she looked 
absolutely pained, and said, ' 0, mamma, if we 
could get along without it, I should be so glad — 
unless you wish it very much. Or, perhaps, I 
could stay up stairs.' I was quite provoked for the 
moment, and said, ' No, indeed, you couldn't. I 
should insist on your entertaining our friends.' 
And then she was so sorry she had offended me. 
She is so good and conscientious, that I can't bear 
to thwart her ; and yet I am sure it will not be 

good for her to shut herself up entirely." 

^ ^<- -X- -;r * 

The next time that Daisy brought her work 
basket to her mother's room, for a "good quiet sit- 
down," as she expressed it, Mrs. Bell resolved to 
open the subject that was on her mind ; but the 
young girl anticipated her design by saying, ' ' Now, 
mamma, before we begin the second volume of our 
Macauley (how tempting it looks and what lovely 
readings we will have !) I want to ask you some- 
thing." 



Novelists and Story- Writers. 201 

*'Well, dear?" 

' ' I know I troubled you yesterday when you 
spoke about haying company, dear mamma. I was 
so sorry afterwards ; but if you knew how I dread 
it, I don't think you would blame me. I have 
been thinking about it a great deal since, and now 
I want to ask you a question and get one of your 
real good answers — a settling answer, mamma. Do 
you think it is my duty to go into company ? Now 
begin, please, and tell me all about it ; " and Daisy 
took up her work and assumed the attitude of a 
listener, as though she had referred her question to 
an oracle, and was waiting for a response. 

The mother smiled a happy and gratified smile 
before she answered. It was very pleasant to her 
to see how her sweet daughter deferred to her opin- 
ion ; and kissing the fair cheek she said : ^ ' I can't 
answer you in one word, darling. What do you 
mean by ' going into company ? ' Of course you 
know that I have no desire to see you absorbed in 
a round of parties, or even going often to com- 
panies." 

'^ Oh, I know that, mamma ; I mean quiet par- 
ties, such as you and papa go to ; reading and talk- 
ing parties, and big sewing societies and musicals." 

' ' You mean going anywhere out of your own 
family ? " 

'^Yes'm, that is just it. I am so happy at 
home. I have plenty to do, and all I want to 



202 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

enjoy. With you and papa and Nellie and our 
pet Lucy, and the boys coming home Sundays, 
what could one wish for more ? I am perfectly 
happy, mamma." 

" And would you never care to make acquaint- 
ances then — to make and receive calls ? " 

' ' Oh, no'm. I dislike calls of all things, ex- 
cept, of course, to go and see Mrs. Lane, for she 
asked me to come and see her, mamma, and to go 
over to Fanny's to play duets, and to a few other 
places.'' 

'^You are a singular girl, Daisy." 

''I know I am," said Daisy, earnestly, dropping 
her work, ''and that's the very reason why I think 
it's just as well for me to stay at home. Now, last 
night, I'm sure there wasn't a girl there thought of 
such a thing as being frightened, except me ; but I 
did n't really enjoy the last part very much ; it was 
so disagreeable being among so many strangers ; 
and even during the reading, I wished myself back 
in our old composition room, where I could hear 
Mrs. Lane without being dressed up, and being sur- 
rounded by girls dressed even more than I was." 

"And would you like, then, always to live 
retired at home ? " 

"Indeed I should, mamma! and I can't see 
why I may not. We are told not to love the 
world," said Daisy in a lower tone. "Why is it 
not better to keep out of it entirely ? " 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 203 

'^I will tell you, darling why it is not," said 
Mrs. Bell, seriously. ^'Because our Master did not 
do so, and w^e cannot follow His example perfectly, 
if we do." 

"V/as it not the poor and sick that He visited, 
mamma, chiefly ? " 

'^ Yes, dear, and so it should be with us ; but 
He visited, too, the rich and the high. He seems 
to have gone wherever His presence was desired, to 
make that presence felt by all classes of people, and 
we ought to imitate Him in this as in all other 
things. " 

"Do you think we can do that ? " 

"Yes, I think we can in some, measure. At 
any rate, I am sure we ought to try. Suppose, 
Daisy, that every one adopted your rule — that every 
house was a castle, and no one in it cared for any- 
body outside. What a selfish world this would be ! 
Our Christian love would be limited to our own 
family." 

"But I w^ould visit the poor, mamma." 

"Yes, and that is by far the most important. 
But, dear, you have gifts of mind and heart and 
education that enable you to do good in other ways 
than in ministering to the poor and the ignorant. 
There are other hearts to reach, over w^hom you can 
have even greater influence, because they sympa- 
thize more entirely with you. You can show forth 
the love of Christ, and set a Christian example in 



204 Novelists and Story -Writers. 

jour own sphere, darling, where you were born 
and brought up, and it would be wrong for my 
daughter to hide the talents G-od has given her un- 
der a bushel, and not to care for anyone or any- 
thing outside of these four walls." 

''Daisy had left her seat and taken her favor- 
ite place at her mother's feet, and now looking up 
into her face, she said, earnestly, "You are right, 
mamma, as you always are. But poor me ! I 
would rather face an army, it seems to me, than a 
roomful of people. I know what you are going to 
say — all the more inj duty— and I shall try with all 
my might.'' 

"My darling, in every roomful of people there 
are some whom you can cheer and please ; and even 
Christ pleased not Himself. Think of that, and it 
will give you strength to overcome your timidity. 
You can serve your Master in some way, be sure of 
it. And you can learn much from others. You 
would not develop all round, but would be a one- 
sided character, if you had only books and your 
own family for companions. " 

' ' Mamma, let us have the company. I am 
ashamed that I have been so cowardly. You shall 
see how hard I will try." 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 205 



Oar grave and reverend scholar and historian, 
taking his place later among Historians, has sur- 
prised and delighted us all by appearing suddenly in 
a new character, writing a very lively, graphic, and, 
of course, instructive story for boys : ''A Fishing 
Trip to Barnegat", which we find in the St. Nicho- 
las for August, 1892. The following is an extract : 

FROM '^A FISHINCt TRIP TO BARNEGAT." 

^'Now this fish of yours, Jack," said the uncle, 
''is not only called the toad-fish and the oyster-fish, 
but, sometimes, the grunting toad-fish. There are 
species of it found all over the world, but this is the 
regular American toad-fish. 

^"This fish of mine is called the weak-fish. No- 
tice its beautiful colors, brownish blue on its back, 
with irregular brown spots, the sides silvery, and 
the belly w^hite. It grows from one to three feet 
long and is a very sharp biter. When one takes 
the hook, there is no difficulty in knowing when to 
pull in. Why it is called the weak-fish, I do not 
know, unless because when it has been out of the 
water its flesh softens and soon becomes unfit for 
food. When eaten soon after it is caught, it is very 
good." 



206 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

Just as Uncle John finished his httle lecture, am 
exclamation from Will, who had baited with a piece 
of the crab, and dropped liis line into the water, at- 
tracted their attention. Not quite so impetuous as^ 
Jack, he landed his prize more carefully, and stood 
looking at it with wonder, hardly knowing what to- 
say. At last he called out : 

" Well, what have I caught ? " 

It was a beautiful fish, though entirely differ- 
ent from Uncle John's. It had a small head and 
the funniest little tail that ever was seen. Its back 
w^as of a bright, brown color, but its belly was al- 
most pure white ; it was quite round and flat, with 
a rough skin. 

" Turn him over on his back, and rub him gen- 
tly," said the captain. '^Do it softly, and watch 
him." 

Will complied and gently rubbed him. Imme- 
diately the fish began swelling and as Will continu- 
ed the rubbing it grew larger and larger until Will 
feared that the fish would burst its little body. 

"Well," he said, "I never saw anything like 
that, Captain ! Do tell me what this is." 

"This we call, here in Baruegat, the balloon- 
fish. It is elsewhere called the puffer, swell-fish, 
and globe-fish. One kind is called the sea-porcu- 
pine, because of its being covered with short, sharp 
spines. It is of no value for food." 

Jack thought his time had come to catch an- 



Novelists and Story- Writei^s. 20T 

other prodigy, and when his hook had been re-bait- 
ed by the skipper, he dropped his hne into the 
water, and was soon rewarded by another bite. 
Using more caution this time, he landed his fish 
securely on deck instead of over the sail, and ex- 
claimed : 

"Wonders will never cease I I don't know 
what I've got now, but I suppose that Captain 
John can tell I " 



Mx^, ©reorgeauna l^upler IBuer, 



Mrs. Duer, for many years a resident of the 
Bahamas, was born there and there met her future 
husband, John King Duer, of the United States 
Navy, who visited the islands in the man-of-war, 
"Ontario." A few years later, upon the removal 
of her family from the Bahamas to New York, she 
was married to Mr. Duer, whose great-grandfather 
was Greneral Alexander (Lord Stirling), one of 
Washington's generals. The country-seat of Lord 
Stirling was famed before and during the Eevolu- 
tionary War, and was the scene of one of the pret- 



:208 Norelisfs and Sfori/- Writers. 

tiest bridals of the period, when the sweetest of 
Jersey behes. Lady Kitty Alexander was wedded 
to Colonel William Duer of New York. It was the 
residence of Lord Stirling's family during the War 
and whilst he was away, and it was also a happy 
refuge for their friends. In later years, during the 
absence of her husband upon his voyages to Europe, 
to China, Japan and other distant lands, Mrs. Duer 
lived with her children in Morristown, where at 
that time her husband's family were residing. 
Judge Duer, Mrs. Duer's father-in-law, with other 
members of his family, including Mrs. Hoyt, 
his daughter, all lived at the country-seat on 
the Baskingridge Road, (now known as Mount 
Kemble Avenue, ) which is now owned and occupied 
by Mr. D. H. McAlpin and his family. 

Mrs. Duer returned, as a widow, to Morristown 
and took her residence there permanejitly for some 
years, occupying herself with the caie and educa- 
tion of her children. It was at odd moments, dur- 
ing that time, that she found lelief and recreation 
in her pen. She was the author of several short 
stories for children, beside which she contributed 
various sketches and poems to magazines. Much of 
her writing has never been collected in book form. 
It was in 1880, in Morristown, that she pub- 
lished a short stoiy entitled, ' ' The Robbers of the 
Woods, by Grandmother. " This is a pretty fascinat- 
ing tale for children, in wliich the winsome inno- 



X 



Novelists and Story-Writers. 209 

cence of two loving boys charms away all the cruel- 
ty of the " Eobbers of the Woods ", leaving an im- 
pression of the tender beauty of childhood. The 
scene is laid in a German forest. We find in it a 
touching pathos, and a certain nicety of descrip- 
tion which belongs pre-eminently to Mrs. Duer. A 
short extract is given below, where the boys are 
released by the robbers. 

FROM "THE ROBBEES OF THE WOODS." 

They were astonished at all they had seen and 
heard, while they were in the robbers' castle, and 
now they were once more in the free and open 
woods, they could not do as they pleased, but sat 
with their eyes bound up, not knowing where they 
were going. Carl did not doubt the words of the 
men who told him that no harm should come to 
him^ but at times he had to comfort and assure 
poor little Eddie, for he sat trembling with fear. 
After they had driven several miles, and the man 
who was with them had answered their questions 
as to how far they were from home now, the wagon 
stopped and the man got out saying, "Now boys, 
you are on the road that leads direct to your home 
and I am going to leave you very soon, but before 
I go you must promise me not to untie the bandage 
from your eyes, till you hear a long whistle, which 
will blow from my horn, after leaving you ; you 
will then undo the bandage, and find something be- 



210 Novelists and Story-Writers. 

side you to take to yoar mother." Saying this, the 
man took the boys from the wagon, and setting 
them carefully down, he lifted their cart out also 
and shaking hands with the still astonished boys, 
and wishing them good-bye, he sprang into the 
wagon and they heard him drive rapidly along the 
road. They sat for some time very quiet, until the 
loud, long whistle from a distant horn told them 
the time of their captivity was at an end, and 
hastily tearing off the bandage from their eyes 
they looked eagerly around on all sides. 



JHalrame Sopf)ie Hatrforti Ire iWei.eJisner. 



Many Morristonians will remeuiber well Miss 
Sophie Radford, fiist as a little gii-1, living in the 
old house of General Doughty on Mt. Kemble ave- 
nue, then owned and occupied by her grandfather, 
Mr. Joseph Lovell, who purchased it of the Doughty 
estate and lived in it for a long period of time. Af- 
terwards, Miss Radford is recalled as a belle in 
Washington society, whence her father, Rear Ad- 
miral Radford, U. S. N., went from Morristown, 



Novelists and Storu-Wr iters. 211 

and where she met and married the handsome and 
=elegant Secretary of the Rnssian Legation, M. de 
Meissner. Their marriage was performed first in 
the Episcopal church and afterwards with the cere- 
mony of the Greek church, at her father's house, it 
heing a law of Russia, with regard to every officer 
•of the Empire, that the marriage ceremony of the 
Greek church shall be always used, a law like "that 
of the Medes and Persians, that altereth not". 

Both M. and Mme. de Meissner were in Morris- 
town a few years ago and met many friends. It is 
since then, that they went to Russia and there, 
after a delightful reception and experience, Mme. 
de Meissner was mspired with the idea of writing 
"" The Terrace of Mon Desir". 

It was published in the fall of 1S86, by Cuppies, 
TJpham & Co., of Boston. This was Mme. de 
Meissner's first appearance in tlie field of literature 
and she had never before contributed even tlie 
briefest article to the press. 

"The Terrace of Mon Desir" is a pretty love 
stor}', gracefully written. The opening scenes are 
laid in Peterhoff, near St. Petersburg, where is the 
summer residence of the Czar. The author thus 
finds an opportunity of describing a charming social 
life among the higher classes, with which, though 
an American girl, but married to a Russian, she 
seems to be and is perfectly at home, having, it is 
evident, taken kindly to the new and interesting 



212 Novelists and Story-Writers. 

situations of her adopted country. The characters 
are dehghtfuliy and simply natural and the combi- 
nations are vivacious and sparkhng, a quahty by 
which Mme. de Meissner herself, among American 
women is distinguished, and in which characteris- 
tic foreigners find an indescribable charm. The 
continuity of the story forbids an extract. 

In the Christmas number of Scribners Maga- 
zine for 1892, is a spirited short story from Mme. de 
Meissner's pen, entitled ''Under Pohce Protection ; 
An Episode in the Life of the Late Chief of the 
Eussian Police." This is a thrilhng pen-picture of 
certain peculiar conditions of the Russian Secret 
Service. An extract would not do it justice. 



Mi^^ i^^M Stone. 



Miss Stone who has long lived and moved in our 
society, has written, beside the poem already giv- 
en, many bright papers and stories for children 
which have been published in various magazines 
and journals, among them The Observer ; Life : Lit- 
tle Ones in the Nursery, edited by Oliver Optic ; The 



Novelists and story -Writers. 'iV6 

Press, of Philadelphia ; The Troy Press and The 
Christian Weekly. These stories and other writ- 
ings were published under an assumed name. 

In 1885, she published a very clever booklet 
entitled " Who Was Old Mother Hubbard i A Mod- 
ern Sermon from the Portsmouth (Eng.) Monitor 
and a Eefutation by auM. M. C, Xew York;'' Gr. 
P. Putnam Sons. This booklet had a very large 
sale and went through several editions. The story 
of this publication is interesting. ''The Modern 
Sermon '^ appeared anonymously, first in one of our 
prominent magazines. It was written in England 
and traced to its ori2:in. This was read at a meet- 
ing of the Mediaeval Club, (a literary club of some 
celebrity in Morristown^ at the house of Mr. John 
Wood, one of its members. Miss Stone was at 
once inspired to write the '' Eefutation"; which 
was read at her own house by Mr. John Wood, 
arrayed in characteristic costume for the occasion. 

We give the "Eefutation" which is a clever 
dissection of the subject. As "A Modern Sermon 
illustrates the method upon which some Parsons- 
Construct their Discourses", so ''A Eefutation" ap- 
pears "in the Combative, Lucid and Argumenta- 
tive Style of Some Others." 

EEFUTATION. 

My Dear Hearers : It is my purpose this 
evening to give to you the result of many hours. 



'214: Novelists and Story-Writers. 

of thought and consultation of various authors re- 
garding the subject to which our attention has 
been lately called. 

While I hesitate to engage in the controversial 
spirit of the day, I feel it my duty to expound to 
3'ou the truth and to unmask any heresy that may 
be gaining ground. 

The discourse to which I allude was upon the 
text — 

" Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard, 

To get her poor dog a bone ; 
But when she got there the cupboard was bare, 

And so the poor dog got none." 

I propose to prove to you this evening that all 
its arguments were founded on false premises ; that 
the wliole picture drawn of the subject of our text — 
viz., old Mother Hubbard — was diametrically the 
reverse of the reality ; in short, to give a complete 
refutation of the text to all those who listened to 
those first erroneous statements. 

Firstly. Old Mother Hubbard wasnof a widow. 

I am at a loss to understand why our learned 
brother should so have drawn upon his imagination 
as to represent her as such, when, as I shall en- 
deavor to set before you conclusively this evening, 
it is distinctly stated in the text that she was the 
wife of an ogre ! 



Novelists and Story -Writers. 215 

My friends, in those days men and husbands 
were designated by the terra '^ poor dog ;"' and, in- 
deed, the Hghtest scholar knows that the terra has 
descended to the present day and is often appropri- 
ated by a raan hiraself under certain existing cir- 
cumstances. 

Now, that this "poor dog" of a husband w^as 
an ogre is abundantly proved by the fact that 
Mother Hubbard provided for hira bones. 

Yes ! bones ! ray friends ; but — they — were — 
human — bones I 

Deep research has convinced me of this fact. I 
find that in those days ogres did not catch and kill 
their own meat, as is coraraonly supposed. They 
were but human, my friends, and, like the rest of 
humanity, preferred rather to purchase labor than 
perform it. They, therefore, employed their own 
individual butchers ; but, with rare wisdom, they 
chose sorae carnivorous animal to supply their 
table. 

In proof of this, we come. Secondly, to the 
Avord cupboard, as mentioned in the text, — 

" Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard, 
To get her poor dog a bone." 

This w^ord cupboard is in our present version 
misspelt, owing to some fault in copying from the 
original, and thus is rendered c-u-p-b-o-a-r-d ; but 
the word properly should be spelt c-u-b-b-e-d. This 



216 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

is a compound word, derived from cub — a young 
bear — and bed, or deposit, as we speak of the bed 
of a river. 

This was a hone deposit — a place where the 
ogre's food was deposited by the cub. 

A young cub was a less expensive butcher than 
a bear, as nowadays labor is cheaper from the 
young aspirant than from the assured professional. 
Therefore they were the usual employees. 

But this ogre, though evidently in the habit of 
employing a cub in this department, had now be- 
come dissatisfied and procured the more satisfac- 
tory service of an old bear ; for, if you will care- 
fully examine the text, you will see that the mean- 
ing is obvious, for, as though to insure all its readers 
from misunderstanding, you will see that it is dis- 
tinctly stated that — 

' ^ The cub-bed was 6eay." 

Now we come Thirdly to the word "'none." 

" And so tlie poor dog got none." 

This word in the original stands for two things 
— first, n-o-n-e, meaning nothing, which was the 
heretical sense deducted by my oi)])onent, and the 
other and correct sense being n-u-n — a woman with 
black veil, generally of tender years ; and Mother 



Novelists and Story- Writers. 2 1 T 

Hubbard, who intended to supply her lord's table 
with one small bone, found that instead the bear 
had secured the bones of a tvhole nun ! 

Fourthly and lastly, it is clear from the words 
" poor dog," that the ogre was poor, but /?of Mother 
Hubbard. 

No, my hearers, evidently she was rich, evi- 
dently she held the purse-strings, and the ogre had 
stealthily supplied his table with a luxury, and his 
house with a steward, for which he individually 
was incapable of providing the means. 

This is clearly the fact from the words of the 
text, for you will notice that it was luhen she got 
there — not before, but when she got there, that she 
found the change that had been made in the house- 
hold arran gemen ts . 

And then, doubtless, ensued a scene such as 
some ''poor dogs" nowadays understand only too 
well! 

And now, my friends, we come to the moral. 
It is not to beware of widows as my opponent tried 
to prove, but for you, my hearers, on one hand, to 
beware of marrying a poor but extravagant dog, 
and you, on the other, to beware of marrying a rich 
but penurious wife. 



218 No relists and Story- Wr ite rs. 



CHjarleis }^. Si)erman. 



iHi^g l^elnt M^ ©tal)am 



It is scarcely necessary to state the fact that 
Mr. Augustus Wood is a native of Morristown, be- 
longing as he does to a very old and well-known 
family, or that he is the author of a little volume 
entitled '' Cupid on Crutches". This is a summer 
story of life at Narragansett Pier and makes one of 
a group of light novels which we will give in suc- 
cession. 

"A BACHELOR'S WEDDING TRIP." 



"Himself" we recognize as Mr. Charles Sher- 
man, then a bachelor, who cleverly dedicates the 
book in these words : "To the Unmarried ; as In- 



No velists a nd Sto ry ■ Wr iters. 21 9- 

stance of the Bliss which may be theirs, and to 
the Married, as Eeminiscent of The trip, These 
Threaded Sketches are Fraternally Dedicated by 
the Author". 

In the Epilogue, Chapter xxv., we find these 
lines : 

" The flying shadows and the curling flames 
Seem filled with wordless joy ; for ten long years 
Have passed, since solemn words and golden ring 
Made one of twain, and of two separate lives 
Did one blest life incarnate, one great joy, 
Which through the vanished years has known nor 

jar 
Nor discord, but, as some still stream, has run 
'Twixt quiet banks, receiving little brooks 
That tumbling come in noisy turbulence 
And lose their little cares within its depths." 

The third of the group is 

GUY HERNDON, 

OR 

/'A TALE OF GETTYSBURG." 



"Elayne," we know, is Miss Helen M. Graham, 
one of Morristown's society girls who spends much 
of her time in New York. 

This "Tale of Gettysburg" is the first venture 



220 Novelists and Story- Writers. 

of Miss Graham into the field of hterature. Her 
choice of subject indicates that she is in touch with 
the growing reahzation among our novehsts of how 
wide and fruitful a field is presented to them in the 
events of our civil war. The few graphic pictures 
already given by them of the social and other con- 
ditions of those stirring times will be more and 
more valued by the present generation, and by 
those to come, as the years go on. 



©tijer KobcH!9t!8i antr ^torp MAtim^, 



Among the poets, we have already mentioned 
as writers also of stories, many of them for chil- 
dren and young people,— 

Mrs. M. Virginia Donaghe McClnrg^ 

Miss Emma F. R. CamphelL 

Miss Hannah More Johnson, 

And Mr. William T. Meredith, 
the last being the author of a summer novel, '' Not 
of Her Father's Eace"; 

Rev. James M. Freeman, D. D., 
who, in addition to his editorial work and more 



Novelists and Story- Wrttei^s. 221 

serious writing, has published more than thirty 
small juvenile works, written under the name of 
^'Eobin Ranger", and which are all very great 
favorites with children, and 

Mrs. Julia McNair Wright. 
who, besides her many volumes on many subjects 
has written novels, among them, ^'A Wife Hard 
Won," published by Lippincott, and a large num- 
ber of stories for young people, found in many 
Sunday School libraries, as well as stories on the 
subject of Temperance, which are found in the 
collected libraries of Temperance societies. 



TRANSLATORS. 



iftflr^. atielaitie S- iSucftlei); 



Mrs. Buckley, who has ah-eady been numbered 
among our Poets, has translated a German story 
called '^Sought and Found" from the original work 
of Golo Eaimund, which has passed to its second 
edition. The translator sa^^s, in her four line p re- 
face, ^' This romance was translated because of its 
rare simplicity and beauty, and is published that 
those who have not seen it in the original may en- 
joy it also." 

One never takes up these charming little Ger- 
man stories without exclaiming, no other country- 
people ever write in the same sweet, simple way \ 
The reason is evident to those who have lived among 
Germans and experienced their unaffected hospital- 



Translators. 223 

ity. There is a peculiar simplicity of home life 
even among the nobility. A friend says ; " I so 
well remember now, a lovely morning visit, in par- 
ticular, to a little, gentle German lady in her beau- 
tiful drawing-room which contained the treasures 
of centuries. No one, I am sure, could have helped 
being struck by her gentle simplicity and unaffect- 
ed courtesy. She came in dressed in the plainest 
of black dresses, a white apron tied around her 
waist, and on her head the simplest of morning caps. 
But her sweet German language,— how beautiful 
it seemed, as in the low, musical voice which be- 
spoke her breeding, she talked of her own German 
poets ; of Walther von der Yogelweide and the 
great Goethe and Schiller, of Auerbach and Richter 
and modern story writers." Afterwards, in speak- 
ing of the charm and beauty of such simplicity, 
the friend added, "Yes, and she belongs to one of 
the oldest noble, hereditary families of Germany, 
and carries the sixteen quarterings upon the family 
shield, which, to those who understand German 
heraldry, means the longest unmixed German 
descent. We could not help contrasting such quiet 
manners with many of the artificial assumptions 
and the aggressive boldness found that winter in 
Dresden." Therefore we always hail with pleasure 
translations of these stories of German hfe among 
all classes. Though to translate requires no crea- 
tive power, translating is in some respects more 



224 Translators. 

difficult than creating, for the reason that to trans- 
late demands a quick comprehension and intuitive 
discernment of the s[)irit of a foreign language, of 
the conception of the writer and of the national life 
which, the language embodies. And we must re- 
member that it is in the power of interpretation 
that woman especially excels. 

This little story is essentially well rendered, 
with the animation and vivacity of the original, 
and it has great merit in preserving its German 
spirit, that sentiment which is so marked and so 
unlike any other people. 

What Dr. Johnson said of translation had a 
ring of truth as had all his mighty utterances, 
namely: "Philosophy and science may be trans- 
lated perfectly and history, so far as it does not 
reach oratory, but poetry can never be translated 
without losing its most essential qualities." It 
would seem then that to know the poetry of a peo- 
ple one must read it in the original language, which 
every one surely cannot do. Mrs. Buckley how- 
ever, recognizing this subtle quality of the yjoetry 
of a language, has left the little verses of the story 
untouched, wisely giving the translation at the bot- 
tom of the page. A very lovely translation it is 
however and after a short passage from the book, 
"Sought and Found", we shall give another poetic 
translation of the poem "Im Arm der Liebe", by 
Georg Scheurlin. 



Translators. 225 

The following is a short passage from the story : 

EXTRACT FROM '^ SOUGHT AND FOUND. ^^ 

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF GOLO~RAIMUND. 

Upon the table lay Veronica's picture, which 
in the meantime had been sent. The flowers, 
painted by her hand, appeared to him like a friend- 
ly greeting. He took it up and regarded it a long 
time ; then, following a sudden inspiration, he 
wrote upon the back : 

(Here follows the German verse, the transla- 
tion below :) 

Thy merry jest is gentle as the May, 
Thy tender heart a lily of the dell ; 

Fragrant as the rose thy inmost soul, 
Thy wondrous song a sweet-toned bell. 

As in sport he subscribed his name ; and then, 
as this homage, which had so long existed in his 
heart, suddenly expressed in words, stood before 
him, black upon white, it was to him as if another 
had opened his eyes and he must guard the newly 
discovered secret. He placed the picture in a port- 
foho, in order to lock it in his writing-desk, and 
his eye fell upon the journal which had so singu- 
larly come into his hands. He laid the portfolio 
beside it. Did they not belong together ? Did not 
the mysterious author resemble Veronica ? 



226 Translators. 

Like a revelation it flashed over him and so 
powerfully affected his imagination that the blood 
mounted hotly to his temples, and, in spite of the 
severe cold^ he threw open the window that he 
might have more air. 

"If it were she !" thought he ; restlessly strid- 
ing up and down, and yet exultant that he had now 
found a trace which could be followed. 

THE AEM OF LOVE. 

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF GEORG 
SCHEURLIN. 

A young wife sits by a cradle nest. 

Her fair boy smiling on her breast ; 

In the quiet room draws on the night, 

And she rocks and sings by the soft lamplight ; 

On mother bosom the rest is deep ; 

In the arm of love — so fall asleep. 

In the cool vale, 'neath sunny sky. 

We sit alone, my own and I ; 

A song of joy wells in my breast, 

Ah, heart to heart, how sweet the rest I 

The brooklets ripple, the breezes sweep ; 

In the arm of love — so fall asleep. 

From the churchyard tolls the solenm bell. 
For the pilgrim has finished his journey well ; 
Here lays he down the staff, long pressed ; 



Translators. 227 

In the bosom of earth, how cahn the rest ! 
Above the casket the earth they heap ; 
In the arm of love — so fall asleep. 



M\^^ i^targaret i^. ffiarrarti 



It must be a poet who shall translate a poet, 
and so naturally we find Miss Garrard, as well as 
Mrs. Buckley, already in our group of Poets. 

The difficulty of reproducing well, in metrical 
forms, thoughts from the poetry of another lan- 
:guage, is so great, that we give with pride the trans- 
lation of Miss Garrard of one of Goethe's sweet 
wild- wood songs, in which he excelled. 

THE BROOK. 

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF GOETHE. 

Little brook, where wild flowers drink, 

Eushing past me, swift and clear — 
Thoughtful stand I on the brink — 

'' Where's thy home ? Whence com'st thou here V^ 



228 Translators. 

I come from out the rock's dark gloom, 
My way lies o'er the flower-strewn plain ; 

And in my bosom there is room 

To mirror heaven's sweet face again. 

Pain, sorrow, trouble have I none ; 

I wander onward, blithe and free — 
He who has called me from the stone 

Will to the end my guardian be. 



©tljer Sran^latoris. 



Hon. John Whitehead has translated consider- 
ably from the French and German, having used 
these translations in several of his writings, but in- 
dividually they have not been published. He aided 
in translating the ^'History of the War of the Ee- 
bellion in North Western Virginia", which was 
written in German by Major F. J. Mangold, of the 
Prussian Army. The book was a monograph pub- 
lished by Major Mangold in Germany, but never 
published here. This translation was largely used 
by Judge Whitehead in his published articles on 
'' The Fitz John Porter Case." 



Trmislators. 229 

Miss Karch, a German lady long a resident of 
Morristown, was also a translator, but it has not 
been possible to procure the details of her work. It 
is nine years since Miss Karch returned to Heil- 
bronn, Germany, where she is now living. For the 
fifteen years preceding her return, she had been a 
resident of Morris town as a teacher of the German 
and French languages. Says a friend : ''She was 
a conscientious, accomplished and true woman, in- 
tensely loyal as a true German, self-sacrificing, pa- 
tient and kindly generous in bestowing her soften- 
ing and refining influences, upon those who needed 
them." 



LEXICOGRAPHER. 



crijarlton E. ILebii^, E?i. IB, 



The great work of Dr. Lewis is his Latin Dic- 
tionary, published in 1879, as "Lewis and Short's 
Kevision of Andrew's Frennd ". This is recognized 
as the most useful and convenient modern Latin- 
English Lexicon. 

Quite recently Dr. Lewis has brought out a 
Latin Dictionary for schools, which is not an 
abridgment of the larger work, but an original 
work on a definite plan of its own. ''It has the 
prestige", says a critic, " of having been accepted 
in advance by the Clarendon Press of Oxford, and 
adopted among their publications in place of a simi- 
lar lexicon projected and begun by themselves. 



Lexicographer. 281 

Thus it may be said to be published in England 
under the official patronage of the University of 
Oxford ". 

Dr. Lewis also published in 1886 ^'A History 
of Germany From the Earliest Times ". 

He ranks among the first Greek scholars of the 
country, having been for many years a member of 
the well-known Greek Club of New^ York, of which 
the late Eev. Howard Crosby D. D. was pioneer 
and president. 

He also ranks high as a Shakesperian scholar 
and critic, and as a poet. From his poem of " Tel- 
emachus", some lines are transcribed among the 
poetical selections of this book. 

Dr. Lewis has made a profound study of the 
subject of prison reform and has been, and is, an 
active worker in that direction, in the New York 
Prison Association, being on the Executive Board 
of that Association. 

In Stedman and Hutchinson's ^'Library of 
American Literature ", Dr. Lewis is represented by 
a paper on the "Lifluence of Civilization on Dura- 
tion of Life ". 



HISTORIANS 



AND 



ESSAYISTS. 



fflgailliam arijerrg. 



ANCIENT CHRONICLER. 



William Cherry is a veritable ''Old Mortality", 
judging from a unique volume found in the Morris- 
town Library. This ancient sexton of the First 
Presbyterian Church, was a true wanderer among 
graves. It is said by those who remember, or who 
had it from their fathers, that the old house adjoin- 
ing the Lyceum Building is the one in which Mr. 
Cherry lived and no doubt reflected on the uncer- 



Historians and Essayists. 233 

tainty of life, while he compiled his melancholy 
record. 

The following is the title of the old volume 
published by him and printed by Jacob Mann in 
the year 1806 : 

'' Bill of Mortality : Being a Register of all the 
Deaths, which have occurred in the Presbyterian 
and Baptist Congregations of Morristown, New 
Jersey ; For Thirty- Eight Years Past Containing 
(with but few exceptions) the Cause of every Dis- 
ease. This Register, for the First Twenty-Two 
Years, was kept by the Rev. Dr. Johnes, since 
which Time, by Wiliiam Cherry, the Present Sex- 
ton of the Presbyterian Church at Morris-Town ". 

'''Time brushes off our lives with sweeping 
wings. ' — Hervey. " 

Some of the causes of disease given are as fol- 
lows : 

'^ Decay of Nature"; ^^ Teething"; ^' Old 
Age"; "A Swelling"; Mortification"; ^'Sudden"; 
''Phrenzy"; "Casual"; "Poisoned by Night- 
Shade Berries " ; "Lingering Decay", &c. We 
find no mention of " Heart Failure ". 

This curious and valuable volume needs no 
further comment. 



234 Historians and Essayists. 



To the Eev. Joseph F. Tuttle, D. D., we are hi- 
debted for the invaluable chronicles of events, of 
the life of the people, and of Washington and his 
army in Morristown during the Revolutionary pe- 
riod. Apparently, all this interesting story, in its 
details, would have been lost to us, except for his 
indefatigable zeal in collecting from the lips of liv- 
ing men and women, the eye-witnesses of what he 
relates, or from their immediate descendants, the 
story he gives us with such pictorial charm and 
beauty, warm from his own imaginary dwelling in 
the period of which he writes. In the Historical 
Sketch is a reference to the charming story of 
Tempe Wicke and her horse. The room referred 
to is the one at the extreme left shown in the en- 
graving of the Wicke Farm House, on page 237. 

For the following sketch of this author we are 
indebted to the historian who follows, the Hon. Ed- 
mund D. Halsey. 

"Eev. Joseph F. Tuttle, D. D., son of Rev. Jacob 
and Elizabeth Ward Tuttle, was born at Bloomfield, 
N. J., March 12th, 1818. Fitted for college princi- 
pally at Newark Academy, he graduated at Mari- 
etta College with first honors of his class in 1841. 
He entered Lane Seminary and was licensed to 



Historians and Essayists. 235- 

preach in 1844. In 1847 he was called to pastorate 
of church at Rockaway, N. J., as associate to his 
aged father-in-law, Eev. Dr. Barnabas King. He 
left Rockaway to accept the Presidency of Wabash 
College in 1862, and, after thirty years in that posi- 
tion, resigned in 1892. 

'' During his fifteen years in this county he was 
a most voluminous and acceptable writer for the 
press — writing for the Obsei^ver, Evangelist, Tri- 
bune and other papers. But he is principally re- 
membered more for his work as a local histo- 
rian. He wrote " The Early History of Morris 
County"; ''Biographical Sketch of Gen. Winds"; 
"Washington in Morris County"; "History of the 
Presbyterian Church at Rockaway"; "Life of Wil- 
liam Tuttle"; "Revolutionary Fragments", (a series 
of articles published in The Neivark Sentinel of 
Freedom)^ "Early History of Presbyterianism in 
Morris County", and other shorter articles. At the 
time his Revolutionary articles were published there 
were still men living who had personal knowledge 
of the events of that era and he gathered an im- 
mense amount of material which but for him would 
have been lost." 

The following from the pen of Dr. Tuttle ap- 
peared in The Newark Daily Advertiser of April,. 
1883 : 



236 Historians and Essayists. 

A FINE EELIC AND A FINE POEM. 

Thirty years ago and more my surplus energ}'' 
was devoted to the innocent dehghts of hunting 
up places, people, facts and traditions associated 
with the American Revolution as preserved in Mor- 
ris County. Some very charming rides were taken 
to Pompton, Mendham, Baskingridge, Spring Val- 
ley, Kimball Mountain, Singack, and other places. 
My rides made me certain that Morris County is 
both rich in beautiful scenery and historic associa- 
tions. The results of these rides appeared in a 
series of ' ' Revolutionary Fragments " printed in 
the Advertiser, as also in some elaborate papers be- 
fore the Historical Society. 

One day I visited the Ford Mansion, and met 
that polished and elegant gentleman, the late 
Henry A. Ford, Esq., then its proprietor. He was 
the son of Judge Gabriel H. Ford, gi'and-son of 
Colonel Jacob Ford, Jr., whose widow was the 
hostess of Washington, the Winter of 1779-80, 
great-grandson of Colonel Jacob Ford, Sr., who 
built the " Ford Mansion, " and great-great-grand- 
son of John Ford, of Hunterdon County, whose 
wife was Ehzabeth who was brought to Philadel- 
phia from Axford, England, when she was a child 
a year old. Her father was drowned by falling 
from the plank on wliich he was walking from the 
ship to the shore. Philadelphia then had but one 
house in it. Mrs. Ford's second husband was 



Histoinans and Essayists. 239 

Lindsley, and "the widow Elizabeth Lindsley died 
at the house of her son, Col. Jacob Ford, Sr., April 
21, 1772, aged ninety -one years and one month," 
and so the courtly master of the "Ford Mansion," 
when I called to visit it, was of the fifth genera- 
tion from the child-emigrant, whose father was 
drowned in the Delaware, in 1682. 

The pleasure of the visit was greatly enhanced 
by the attentions of Miss Louisa, daughter of the 
gentleman named. She afterward became the 
wife of Judge Ogden of Paterson. The father 
and daughter with delightful courtesy took me 
over the famous house and associated in my mem- 
ory the rooms and halls, and even the antique fur- 
niture with the family's most illustrious guest. I 
was especially interested in the old mirror that had 
hung in Washington's bed-room. Miss Ford pro- 
duced a poem on that mirror, written by an aunt, 
and at my request she read it. She was a charm- 
ing reader and promised me a copy.^ 

Under date of Paterson, October 31st, 1856, 
Mrs. Ogden was kind enough to send me the 
promised copy with a note apologizing for the 
delay and adding: "I think, however, you will 
find the poetry has not spoiled by keeping." I 
have not ceased to be thankful that my first visit 
to the Ford Mansion was so pleasantly associated 

*The writer of the poem on the mirror was Theodosia Bartow, the 
wife of the Rev. Edward E. Ford, who was rector for j-ears of St. John's 
Parish at Augusta, G-eorgia. 



2rl:0 Historians and Essayists. 

with the attentions of the father and daughter, 
both of whom have since died . 

The mirror is a fine rehc still to be seen with 
other elegant old furniture, belonging to the Ford 
family, at the "Washington Quarters" at Morris- 
town, and I am sure all will regard the poem which 
pleased me so much thirty years ago as "one that 
has not spoiled by keeping." 

ox AX OLD MIRROR USED BY WASHIXGTOX AT HIS 
HEADQUARTERS IX MORRISTOWX. 

Old Mirror I speak and tell us whence 

Thou comest, and then, who brought thee thence. 

Did dear old England give thee birth ? 

Or merry France, the land of mirth ? 

In vain another should we seek 

At all like thee — thou thing antique. 

Of the old mansion thou seem'st part ; 

Indeed, to me, its very heart ; 

For in thy face, though dimmed with age, 

I read my country's brightest page. 

Five generations, all have passed, 

And yet, old Mirror, tliou dost last ; 

The young, the old, the good, the bad, 

The gay, the gifted and the sad 

Are gone ; their hopes, their sighs, their fears 

Are buried deep with smiles and tears. 

Then speak ; old MuTor I thou hast seen 

Full many a noble form, I ween ; 

Full many a soldier, tall and brave, 

Now lying in a nameless grave ; 



Historians and Essayists. 241 

Full many a fairy form and bright 
Hath flitted by when hearts were light ; 
Full many a bride — whose short life seemed 
Too happy to be even dreamed ; 
Full many a lord and titled dame, 
Bearing full many an honored name ; 
And tell us, Mirror, how they dressed — 
Those stately dames, when in their best ? 
If robes and sacques the damsels wore, 
And sweephig skirts in days of yore ? 
But tell us, too, for we must hear 
Of him whom all the world revere. 
Thou sawest him when the times so dark 
Had made upon his brow their mark ; 
Those fearful times, those dreary days, 
When all seemed but a tangled maze ; 
His noble army, worn with toils. 
Giving their life blood to the soils. 
Disease and famine brooding o'er, 
His country's foe e'en at his door ; 
Bab ever saw hiui noble, brave, 
Seeking her freedom or his grave. 
His was the heart that never quailed ; 
His was the arm that never failed ! 
Old MiiTor ! thou hast seen what we 
Would barter all most dear to see ; 
Tiie great, the good, the noblest one ; 
Our own immortal Washington ! 
Well may we gaze — for now in thee 
Eelics of the great past we see. 
Well may we gaze — for ne'er again, 
Old Mirror, shall we see such men ; 
And when we too have lived our day, 
Like those before us passed away, 



2-i2 Historians and Essayists. 

Still, valued Mirror, may'st thou last 
To tell our children of the past ; 
Still thy dimmed face, thy tarnished frame 
Thy honored house and time proclaim ; 
And ne'er may sacrilegious hand, 
While Freedom claims this as her land 
One stone or pehble rashly throw 
To lay thee, honored Mirror, low. , 



Y. F. 



I^on. iSDmuuti 10. i^al-sej). 



Mr. Halsey, historian, biographer, as well as 
lawyer, has published our most valuable '> History 
of Morris County", and is considered an authority 
upon that subject, his accuracy being unquestioned. 
By his sterling integrity and superior intellectual 
ability, he has, in the practice of his profession, 
gained the entire confidence of the community in 
which, as a lawyer, he has passed the greater part 
of his life. 

Included in his literary work are '^Personal 
Sketches" of Governor Mahlon Dickerson, Colonel 
Joseph Jackson, and others; "The Kevolutionary 



Historians and Essayists. 243 

Army in Morris County in 1779-80"; and a brief 
sketch of the Washington Headquarters entitled 
"History of the Washington Association of New 
Jersey", pubhshed in Morristown in 1801. 

On Memorial Day, May 30th, 1892, at the dedi- 
cation of the Soldier's Monument at Eockaway, N. 
J., Mr. Halsey delivered an address of importance 
and great interest on "Eockaway Township in the 
War of the Eebellion"; published April, 1893. 

Mr. Halsey also assisted Mr. William 0. Wheel- 
er in the publication of a book of unique interest 
and of unusual value, especially to genealogists and 
antiquarians, the title of which reads "Inscriptions 
on Tombstones and Monuments in the Burying 
Grrounds of the First Presbyterian Church and St. 
John's Church at Elizabeth, New Jersey". 

Mr. Halsey is a prominent member of the" His- 
torical Society of New Jersey", as well as of the 
"' Washington Association of New Jersey". 

We quote from his " History of the Washing- 
ton Association" the following "brief history of the 
title of the property". 

FEOM "HISTOEY OF THE WASHINGTON AS- 
SOCIATION OF NEW JEESEY." 

Colonel Jacob Ford, Senior — prominent as a 
merchant, iron manufacturer, and land owner, 
who was president Judge of the County Court 
from the formation of the County in 171:0 until 



244 Historians and Essayists. 

his death in 17Y7, and who presided over the 
meeting, June 27, 1774, which appointed the 
first ^^ Committee of Correspondence" — conveyed 
the tract of 200 acres surrounding the house to his 
son, Jacob Ford, junior, March ^4, 1762. In 1768 
he conveyed to him the Mount Hope mines and 
meadow^s where the son built the stone mansion 
still standing. In 1773 Jacob Ford, junior, rented 
this Mount Hope property for fifty years to John 
Jacob Faesch and David Wrisbery, and these men 
proceeded to build the furnace afterward useful to 
the patriot army in supplying it with cannon and 
cannon-balls. 

Colonel Jacob Ford, junior, after making this 
lease returned to Morristown, and,* probably with 
his father's aid, began at once the erection of these 
Headquarters, and had just completed the building 
when the war broke out. He was made Colonel of 
the Eastern Battalion of the Morris County Militia 
and was detailed to cover Washington's retreat 
across New Jersey in the "mud rounds" of 1776 — a 
service accomplished with honor and success. In 
this or in similar service. Colonel Ford contracted 
pneumonia, of which he died January 10, 1777, and 
was buried with military honors by order of Wash- 
ington. He left a widow, Theodosia Ford, and five 
young children. She was the daughter of Eev. 
Timothy Johnes, whose pastorate of the First church 
extended from 1742 to 1794, and who is said to have 



Historians and Essayists. 245 

administered the Communion to Washington. 
This lady in 1779-80 offered to Washington the 
hospitality of her house, and here was his Head- 
quarters from about December 1, 1779 to June 1780. 
In 1805j Judge Gabriel H. Ford, one of the sons of 
Colonel Jacob, purchased his brothers' and sister's 
interest in the property and made it his home until 
his death in 1849. By his will dated January 27, 
1818, Gabriel H. Ford, devised this, his homestead 
to his son, Henry A. Ford, who continued to occu- 
py it until his death, which occurred April 22, 1872. 
From the heirs of Henry A. Ford title was derived 
to the four gentlemen who organized the Associa- 
tion, namely : Governor Theodore F. Randolph, 
Hon. George A. Halsey, General N. N. Halsted, 
and William Van VJeck Lidgerwood, Esq. 



BIOGRAPHER AND HISTORIAN. 



Of Mr. Whitehead's new departure into the 
iield of romance, we have already spoken and a 



24:6 Historians and Essayists. . 

portion of his story "A Fishing Trip to Barnegaf'y 
is given to represent him among " Novehsts and 
Story Writers". 

His Hterary work of many years covers a 
variety of departments in literature. 

In the Northern Monthly Magazine which be- 
gan some years ago, as a periodical of high order 
we find running through several numbers a '^His- 
tory of the English Language", contributed by Mr, 
Whitehead, in which he starts from a true and 
philosophic premise. It is this: "It would be 
difficult to separate any one creation from the 
whole universe and pronounce that it is not subject 
to law." The reader discovers that these magazine 
articles contain the germs of all that has been writ- 
ten in many exhaustive works on the philosophy 
and growth of language. 

For a number of years, Mr. Whii:chead was 
editor of The Record, a small sheet opened by the 
First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, the 
value of which historically increases with each 
year. For this, he wrote largely, sketches of 
prominent men of Eevolutionary times and of 
others connected with the congregation of the 
church. 

Some important papers were contributed by 
him to the local press, including "A Eeview of 
Fitz John Porter's Case", in the Morristown 5a?i- 
?^er, also "Sketches of Morris County Lawj^ers".. 



Historians and Essayists. 24Y 

A series of "Sketches" was also published in the 
Neivarh Sunday Call, entitled ' ' Newark Afore- 
time", referring to Newark and Newark people, 
fifty years ago. 

Many of Mr. Whitehead's speeches and ad- 
dresses have been published, among them those 
given at the Centennial Celebration of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Morristown ; at the Cen- 
tennial Celebration of the Presbyterian Church at 
Springfield, N. J. ; two or three addresses before the 
Society of the Sons of the American Kevolution, of 
which he is president, and an address delivered 
three years ago before the Washington Association 
of N. J. Mr. Whitehead is an honored member of 
the Historical Society of New Jersey. 

In the course of his study and writing, we have 
already mentioned, among "Translators/' Mr. 
Whitehead has made several valuable translations 
from German and French authors. 

We mast not overlook one principal labor, a 
voluntary work, which is far more herculean than 
we, who are so greatly benefited by it, perhaps 
fully comprehend, namely, the Catalogue, in two 
volumes, of the Library, in which Morristown just- 
ly takes so much pride. Mr. Whitehead has now 
in preparation the "History of the First Presby- 
terian Church" of Morristown, in which will appear 
the interesting proceedings of the Centennial exer- 
cises, held there in October, 1891. 



2i8 Historians and Essayists. 

A series of fine articles on "The Supreme 
Court of New Jersey " have recently appeared in 
The Green Bag of Boston. The last article in this 
magazine, of the series on " The Supreme Court of 
New Jersey ", is delightful in expression and in 
form ; it has a fine large type, is illustrated with 
well- executed portraits of the judges, in group and 
singly, and is altogether most attractive and in- 
teresting. 



13ai)artr Cucfemnaiu 



Mr. Tuckerman, who resided for some time 
in Morristown, and whose ancestry is associated 
with artistic and literary taste and genius, is the au- 
thor of "The Life of General Lafayette", published 
in 18S0, during his residence in Morristown, and, a 
copy of which was presented by the author, in per- 
son, to the Morristown Library. Before this, he 
published a "History of English Prose Fiction", in 
1882, and after it, in 1881) again, he edited " The Di- 
ary of Philip Hone". This author has ]"ecently pub- 
lished another book, in the "Makers of America" 



Historians and Essayists. 249 

series, with the title of ''Peter Stuyvesant". Iii it 
we fiiidj with the hfe and career of Stuyvesant, a 
graphic and valuable account of the Dutch colony 
on Manhattan island in Stuyvesant's time. 

'^TKo Diary of Philip Hone" is a charming 
book, especially to those familiar with old New 
York. The editorship of any life requires a talent 
for selection and a gift for combining and drawing 
together much desultory matter, but when we con- 
sider that the two volumes, into which Mr. Tuck- 
erman compressed his material, were less than one- 
fourth the original diary, which fills twenty-eight 
quarto manuscript volumes, the herculean task is 
at once apparent. A critic in one of the popular 
journals says of it : "As a rule the diary needs 
httle interpretation and it may be welcomed as an 
agreeable, gossipy contribution to civic annals, and 
as a pleasant record of a citizen of some distinction, 
parts and usefulness in his generation". 

In the "Life of General Lafayette", Mr. Tuck- 
erman has evinced his superior love of industrious, 
conscientious study. The book is acknowledged to 
be essentially truthful and exceptionally just above 
anything ever written of Lafayette. It has been 
truly said of Mr. Tuckerman that "he tells the sto- 
ry of Lafayette's life in such a way that the inter- 
est increases as it proceeds", and that "he shows 
his skill as a biographer in this as in making both 
the narrative itself and his own criticism of the 



250 Historians and Essayists. 

subject heighten our sympathy". He has not al- 
lowed himself to be turned from the actual state- 
ment of fact by that peculiar sentiment of the ro- 
mantic side of Lafayette's career which lias more or 
less colored the opinions of so many other biogra- 
phers. Mr. Tuckerman himself says that ''Lafa- 
yette's name has suffered more from the admira- 
tion of his friends than from the detraction of his 



FKOM THE "LIFE OF GENERAL LAFAYETTE." 

The visit to America was sup|)lemented in the 

following summer of 1785 by a journey through 

Germany and Austria. 

* % -::- -;f -x- 

Many distinguished ofhcers were met. At one 
camp, as he (Lafayette) wrote to Washington, he 
found Lord Cornwalhs, Colonels England, Aber- 
crombie, and Musgrave ; ''on our side" Colonel 
Smith, Generals Duportail and Gouiron ; " and we 
often remarked, Smith and I, that if we had been 
unfortunate in our struggle, we would have cut a 
poor figure there." Again ; 

Writing from Valley Forge to the Comte de 
Broglie, he gave a sad pictui'e of the poverty and 
sufferings of the army. "Everything here", he 
said, " combines to inspire disgust. At the smallest 
sign from you I shall return home". But the mis- 
ery of Valley Forge never abated one jot of Lafa-' 



Historians and Essayists. 251 

yette's enthusiasm. The privations which he saw 
and shared only made him put his hand the more 
often into his own pocket, and redouble his efforts 
to obtain aid from the treasury of France. 

^ -X- ^ -X- -)f 

To Lafayette, the happiest portion of this voy- 
age to Amei'ica was the time passed in the com- 
pany of Washington. Hastening from New York 
immediately on his arrival, he allowed himself to 
be delayed only at Philadelphia. " There is no rest 
for me," he wrote thence to Washington, "until 
I go to Mt. Yernon. I long for the pleasure to 
embrace you, my dear general ; in a few days I 
shall be at Mt. Yernon, and I do already feel de- 
lighted with so charming a prospect." Two weeks 
of a proud pleasure were tlien passed in the society 
of the man who was always to remain his beau 
ideal. To walk about the beautiful grounds of Mt. 
Yernon with its honored master, discussing his 
agricultural plans ; to sit with him in his library, 
and listen to his hopes regarding the nation for 
which he had done so much, were honors which La- 
fayette fully appreciated. He has left on record the 
feelings of admiration with which he saw the man 
who had so long led a great people in a great 
struggle retire to private life, with no thought 
other than satisfaction at duty performed. And it 
was a legitimate source of pride to himself that he 
had enlisted under his standard before fortune had 



252 Historians and Essayists. 

smiled upon it, aud had worked with all his heart 
to crovvn it with victory. The two men thorough- 
ly knew each other. 

The words of Lafayette will be found, in this 
volume, in the paper on '' George Washington." 

He ( Washington ) responded to Lafayette's 
demonstrative regard by a sincere paternal affec- 
tion. Later in the summer, Lafayette met Wash- 
ington again, and visited in his company some of 
the scenes of the late war. When the time for 
parting had come, Washington accompanied his 
guest as far as Annapolis in his carriage. There 
the two friends separated, not to meet again. 

On his return to Mt. Vernon, Washington 
added to his words of farewell, a letter in which 
occur tlie following passages : "In the moment of 
our separation, upon the road as I travelled, and 
every hour since, I have felt all that love, respect, 
and attachment for you, with which length of 
years, close connection and your merits have in- 
spired me. I often asked myself, as our carriages 
separated, whether that was the last sight I ever 
should have of you, and though I wished to say no, 
my fears answered yes. I called to mind the days 
of my youth, and found they had long since fled, 
to return no more ; that I was now descending the 
hill 1 liad been fifty -two years climbing, and that, 
though I was blest with a good constitution, I was 



Historians and Essayists. 253 

of a short-lived family, and might soon expect to 
be entombed in the mansion of my fathers. These 
thoughts darkened the shades and gave a gloom to 
the picture, and consequently to my prospect of 
seeing you again. But I will not repine ; I have 
had my day. " ^' "" ''^ It is unnecessary, I per- 
suade myself, to repeat to you, my dear Marquis, 
the sincerity of my regards and friendship ; nor 
have I words which could express my affection for 
you, were I to attempt it. My fervent prayers are 
offered for your safe and pleasant passage, happy 
meeting with Madame de Lafayette and family, 
and the completion of every wish of your heart." 
To these words Lafayette replied from on board the 
" Nymphe," on the eve of his departure for France: 
' ' Adieu, adieu, my dear general. It is with inex- 
pressible pain that I feel I am going to be severed 
from you by tlie Atlantic. Everything that ad- 
miration, respect, gratitude, friendship, and filial 
love can inspire is combined in my affectionate 
heart to devote me most tenderly to you. In your 
friendship I find a delight which words cannot ex- 
press. Adieu, my dear general. It is not without 
emotion that I write this word, although I know I 
shall soon visit you again. Be attentive to your 
health. Let me hear from you every month. 
Adieu, adieu." 



254 Historians and Essayists. 

Enpall jFarragut. 



BIOGRAPHER. 



With Morristown is associated the beautiful 
memoir of our great Admiral, in honor of whom 
one of the streets of our city is named. In the old 
house (the Colles homestead) now removed from 
its original position to the end of Farragut Place, 
this honored commander once visited for several 
days, walking over the ground now occupied by the 
houses of many families, delighted as a boy with 
everything in nature ; noticing and observing the 
smallest detail of what was going on around him 
and interesting himself equally in the humblest in- 
dividual who crossed his path and in the most dis- 
tinguished visitor who asked to be presented. 

The "Life of David Glasgow Farragut" w^as 
written according to the Admiral's expressed wish, 
by his only son, Loyall Farragut, who for a short 
time, had, in Morristown, his summer home, and 
who presented to the Morristown Library a copy of 
his book. 

The Farraguts came from the island of Minorca, 
where the name is now extinct. In the volume 
referred to, we find these words: "George Far- 
ragut, father of the admiral, was sent to school at 



Historians and Essayists. . 255 

Barcelona, but was seized with the spirit of adven- 
ture, and emigrated to America at an early age. 
He arrived in 1776, promptly sided with the colo- 
nists, and served gallantly in the struggle for inde- 
pendence, as also in the war of 1812. It is said 
that he saved the life of Colonel Washington in 
the battle of Gowpens." 

In reading this volume one is transported to 
the times and scenes described, and everywhere is 
felt the grandeur, beauty and simplicity of char- 
acter of this truly great and lovable man. In the 
touching letter to his devoted wife, on the eve of 
the great battle, is seen, as an example to all men 
of future generations, the realization of a man's 
fidelity to the woman of his choice, even in the 
moment of greatest extremity, and the possibility 
of the tenderest heart existing side by side with 
the daring courage of one of the bravest men the 
world has ever seen. 

Wonderfully stirring are the descriptions given 
of the river fight on the Mississippi and"of the bat- 
tle of Mobile Bay, after which Admiral Farragut 
received from Secretary Welles the following con- 
gratulatory letter : 

"In the success which has attended your oper- 
ations, you have illustrated the efficiency and irre- 
sistible power of a naval force led by a bold and 
vigorous mind and the insufficiency of any batter- 
ies to prevent the passage of a fleet thus led and 



25G Historians and Essayists. 

commanded. You have, first on the Mississippi 
and recently in the bay of Mobile, demonstrated 
what had previously been doubted, — the ability of 
naval vessels, properly manned and comujanded, to 
set at defiance the best constructed and most heav- 
ily armed fortifications. In these successive victo- 
ries, you have encountered great risks, but the re- 
sults have vindicated the wisdom of your policy and 
the daring valor of our officers and seamen." 



Jovial) OToUiug iPmnpellj). 



Mr. Pumpelly, long a resident of Morristown, 
claims our attention as a writer, rather than an 
author, as he has not been a publisher of books, be- 
yond a collection of three Addresses in pamphlet 
form entitled "Our French Allies in the Revolu- 
tion and Other Addresses ", the other two addresses 
being on "Fort Stanwix and Battle of Oriskany", 
and an "Address on Washington", 

Several sketches entitled "Reminiscences of 
Colonial Days", and others of the same character, 
all involve considerable research and add to our 



Historians and Essayists. 257 

literary possessions in coDnection with historic Mor- 
ristown. His " Address on Washington", dehvered 
before the Washington Association of New Jersey, 
at the Morristown Headquarters, February 22, 1888, 
was pubhshed by the Association, and was long 
for sale there. Of this, the writer says, '' I rejoice 
that even in this slight way, I can be of service to 
an Association whose faithful care of this home of 
Washington in the trying winter of 1779 and '80 
deserves the lasting gratitude of every loyal Jersey- 
man." In closing this address, Mr. Pumpelly said, 
quoting from our favorite historian, Eev. Dr. 
Tuttle, ''each old parish in our County had its 
heroes, and each old church was a shrine at which 
brave men and women bowed in God's fear, conse- 
crating their all to their country." Mr. Pumpelly 
adds: "So instead of referring our children to 
Greek and Roman patriots, we have but to call up 
for them the names of our own men and women, 
who have here, amid the hills of Morris, wrought 
out for us this heritage, so much grander, so much 
nobler than they themselves ever dreamed." 

Other important papers have been read by Mr. 
Pumpelly before various societies, and afterwards 
published ; one, on "The Birthplace of our Immor- 
tal Washington and the Grave of his Illustrious 
Mother, shall they not be Sacredly Preserved?" 
Another, on "Joseph Warren", was given before 
the Massachusetts Societv of the Sons of the Amer- 



258 Historians and Essayists. 

ican Eevolution, on April 18th, 1890, on the occa- 
sion of the Ulth Anniversary of the Battle of 
Lexington. He was then President of the New 
Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revo- 
lution. The title of still another is ^'Mahlon 
Dickerson, Industrial Pioneer and old time Patriot." 
In The Neiv York Genealogical and Biographical 
Record for April, 18i»2, is ''A Short Sketch of the 
Character and Life of Paul Jones", and in the num- 
ber for April, 1893, of the same magazine, we find 
another article of unusual interest, from this wri- 
ter's pen, on "The Huguenot Builders of New Jer- 
sey." 

Mr. Pumpelly has also given much time and 
literary effort in philanthropic and sanitary direc- 
tions. Many articles have appeared from time to 
time from his pen in behalf of reforms in the treat- 
ment of our dependent, delinquent, and defective 
classes, all tending to social economic improvement 
and, at one time, assisting materially the advance 
of the State Charities Aid Association of New Jer- 
sey of which he was for several years an active 
member. We quote from 

WHAT DOES THE CAUSE OF HUMAN FREE- 
DOM OWE TO THE HUGUENOT ? 

In looking back over the milestones which mark 
in history the relapse and advance, the failure and 
the successes, of the principles of civilization, we 



Historians and Essayists. 259 

note that at a certain period it was the Teutonic 
Nations which broke loose from Eome and the Lat- 
in Nations who adhered to the Pope. Also, that in 
France, opposition to Rome was early and consider- 
able. Thus the Waldenses, Albigenses, and Le- 
f evre and his colleagues were Huguenots and lovers 
of human freedom before the name itself was known 
— Calvinists before Calvin, Lutherans before Lu- 
ther, Wiclyfites before Wiclyf. 

That great movement for the liberty of con- 
science and personal freedom, civil and religious, 
was not in France an importation, for God had de- 
posited the first principles of the work in a few 
brave hearts of Picardy and Dauphiny before it had 
begun in any other country of the globe. Not to 
Switzerland nor to Germany belongs the honor of 
having been first in the work, but to France and 
the Huguenot. 

It was the voice of Lefevre, of Etaples, France, 
a man of great nobility of soul as well as genius of 
mind, which was to give the signal of the rising of 
this morning star of liberty. He it was who taught 
Farel, the great French reformer and ^^master- 
builder " with Luther. 



260 Historians and Essayists. 



Miss Johnson's poem, "The Christmas Tree", 
has taken its place in our Poet's corner. She is also 
mentioned among Novelists and Story -Writers iov 
her well-known stories of "Lost Wilhe"; "Ella 
Button"; "Snow Drifts"; "Signal Lights", and 
"First the Blade" published by A. D. F. Randolph 
and by the Presbyterian Board. But perhaps her 
most important work is "Mexico, Past and Pres- 
ent", an excellent and charmingly written history 
of Mexico, a book of interest and importance, with 
sixty-three maps and illustrations, treating not on- 
ly the history, but the present condition and pros- 
pects of that country. This work is found in many 
libraries, and places Miss Johnson among our His- 
torians. 

Miss Johnson is the daughter of Mr. Jacob 
Johnson and niece of our townsman, Mr. J. Henry 
Johnson, who was the last preceptor of the old 
Morris Academy. With this reference to the old 
Academy's last preceptor, although the Academy 
itself is noticed elsewhere in this volume, we give 
in this place the illustration of the old Academy 
building, a pen-and-ink sketch from the photograph 
in the Morristown Library, which is pronounced, 



> 3 







Historians and Essayists. 263 

by Mr. Johnson himself, to be an exact representa- 
tion of the original. 

Though long a resident of Morristown, Miss 
Johnson now makes her home in Philadelphia, 
where she is editor of a Missionary Publication. '^I 
first thought of myself as a writer", says Miss 
Johnson, ''when I saw my name for the first time 
in print and nearly fainted with fright. I have 
never recovered from that shock and not until I had 
had more than one collision with publishers have I 
consented to give my name to articles." 

Last September (1892) "Bible Lights in Mission 
Paths" w^as published. " The long interval between 
my first and my last book," says the author, "was 
filled with what seems to me the true work of my 
life." And it is curious how this work of life came 
to her quite unsought and unexpectedly. Let us 
hear it in her own words. " About twelve years 
ago," she tells us, " a relative became proprietor of 
a small religious weekly in Philadelphia, The Pres- 
byterian Journal. I had the entire charge of the 
missionary department. Shortly afterward, the 
Presbyterian Alliance met in our city and the Wo- 
man's Foreign Missionary Society, (of which I was 
and still am a Director), held in connection with 
that great convocation in the Academy of Music, 
an all-day meeting in one of the churches. Presby- 
terian women were there from every quarter of the 
world beside others from sister churches. At noon 



264 Historians and Essayists. 

as I sat, talking over the programme for the after- 
noon with Mrs. A , she said regretfully, ' I am 

afraid that we shall not be able to get these women 
to speak loud enough to be heard all over this great 
church. It would be delightful if we could have a 
full report.' 'I think I could get one up, Mrs. 

A ,' said I. 'I have been taking notes of the 

speeches all the morning and this afternoon we are 
to have written reports and papers.' 'I can get 
them all for you, ' she said quickly. That night I 
went home laden with documents, three-fourths of 
them from the Old World. The Journal publishers 
offered to send out an extra and send it to any ad- 
dress I gave. Within a week, this extra was mail- 
ed to every mission station throughout the world, 
which had been in any way represented at this wo- 
man's meeting or mentioned in its reports. Ever 
since that busy, busy week with French, English, 
Scotch, German, Italian, Belgian and Irish women, 
I have been a constant reporter of Missionary meet- 
ings. This led to a series of articles for Monthly 
Concerts, proposed for the use of pastors and other 
leaders of missionary meetings. Twelve articles a 
year for about four years, each one of which had 
cost months of research and study, I had time for 
nothing else. It was weary work. All roads led 
to Rome and I could n't pick up a book or a daily 
that did n't give me an item or a suggestion. The 
nameless writer was generally supposed to be some 



Historians and Essayists. 265 

Doctor of Divinity shelved with a sore throat or 
other ministerial disability. I remember one time 
when a carefully prepared article (of mine) on Siam 
appeared in The Gospel of all Lands, credited to 
The London Missionary Neius. It had been taken 
from the magazine in which it was first published, 
profusely illustrated and sent out as an English 
production." 

Besides this Miss Johnson has f urnished month- 
ly articles for various papers and occasional poems 
for magazines. Thus we see her very busy life has 
been fruitful of unusual results. 



Mx^. Julia imcNair amtigljt. 



Mrs. Wright has already been mentioned among 
Novelists and Story -Writers. For the following 
graphic sketch, we are indebted to one of our wri- 
ters, Mrs. Julia R. Cutler. 

'^One of the authors whose sojourn in our 
^beautiful little town ', as she caUs it, was of a com- 
paratively brief period, from 1881-83, but whose 
writings, as showing deep research in many fields 



260 Historians and Essayists. 

of thought, both scientific and historical, entitle 
her to more than a brief mention, is Mrs. Julia Mc- 
Nair Wright. Her husband, the Kev. Dr. William 
J. Wright, is President of and, Professor of Meta- 
physics, in a Western College. Much of Mrs. 
Wright's time is spent in visiting different large 
cities, at home and abroad, where she can have 
access to libraries and gain information on various 
subjects connected with her books. 

' ' While in Morristown, she wrote, at the re- 
quest of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, her 
book on "The Alaskans " and also a short work on 
the religious life, called "Mr. Standfast's Journey", 
besides preparing for the press a book entitled 
"Bricks from Babel", which she had previously 
written while visiting London and the British mu- 
seum. The Eev. Joseph Cook fully endorses this 
book, and calls it 'a most admirable compendium of 
ethnography.' A set of religious biographies were, 
also, about this time, published in Arabic. These 
works written and prepared for the press while she 
was occupying her quiet cottage home on Morris 
Plains, would alone have entitled her to a promi- 
nent place among the authors of whom MoiTistown 
has reason to be proud. But these are bat a small 
portion of her literary labors. Judging from the 
number of books which appear over lier signature, 
she must indeed be gifted with the ' pen of a ready 
writer. ' 



Historians and Essayists. 267 

''Among the more prominent works are 'The 
Early Church m Britain'; 'The Complete Home', 
of which over one hundred thousand copies have 
been sold ; 'Saints and Sinners of the Bible'; 'Al- 
most a Nun'; 'The Priest and Nun'; 'A Wife 
Hard Won', a novel published by Lippincott ; 'The 
Making of Rasmus'; 'Easmusa Made Man'; and 
*Eag Fair and May Fair'. The last deals with so- 
cial questions in England, and is being re -published 
in London, as indeed a number of her other books 
have been, as well as translated into the French 
language. Mrs. Wright's latest work, completed 
during a recent visit to the British museum, is a 
Series of Readers on Natural Science, called 'Nature 
Readers, Seaside and Wayside', which are having a 
■large run in this country, in England and in Canada 
and which are a new invention in school books. 
They have been more warmly received than any 
books for our schools, for the past twenty-five 
years. 

" Very few persons have the talent of dealing 
w^th so many subjects and doing it so well. Even 
the Temperance cause owes much to Mrs. Wright, 
as its earnest advocate, and many of her thrilling 
stories on this subject have touched the hearts and 
inspired the actions of those who have read them. 
Nor has she, amid her multitude of duties, forgot- 
ten the young, as the large number of volumes on 
the shelves of our Sabbath School libraries, bearing 



268 Historians and Essayists. 

her name can testify. "" May the pen Mrs. Wright 
has so wisely and deftly used, in the cause of edu- 
cation and humanity, long continue through her 
skillful hand, to trace its characters upon the 
hearts and minds of those with whom it comes in 
contact ! " 



Hflrg, iBtitoina E. Hea^tep. 



Though Mrs. Keasbey has published a most at- 
tractive and useful book, full of practical thoughts 
idealized, yet we place her and Mrs. Stockton in this 
grouping for the reason that a large part of her 
writing was of this character, on the whole. Much 
of it was graphically descriptive of scenes in foreign 
lands and at home, usually accompanied with re- 
flections which indicate the Essay character. Like 
others of our writers, there is a variety in her writ- 
ing and choice of subjects which makes it some- 
what difficult to place her with exactness. 

Most of Mrs. Keasbey 's writing was originally 
done for The Hosj^ital Review, a paper edited by 
her, during eleven years, for the St. Barnabas Hos- 



Historians and Essayists. 269 

pital, which was founded largely through her efforts 
and influence and was a work to which she devoted 
her life. For this was written a series of papers 
entitled " A Lame Woman's Tramp through some 
Alpine Passes", and "Bits of English Scenery 
Sketched by a Lame Hand", among which is a fine 
and vivid picture of the first sight of Durham 
Cathedral. So, for this Hospital Uevieiu were origi- 
nally written the papers now collected and bound in 
one of the prettiest little volumes one could desire, 
convenient in size, artistic in design and with clear, 
large type and broad margins. This is entitled "The 
Culture of the Cradle ". 

In the education of children, Mrs. Keasbey has 
found the key and basis of all true and reasonable 
training, in the development of the child's individu- 
ality. The object of this book is to suggest the 
meaning and purpose of true culture and to show 
how it must begin with the cradle, and, says the au- 
thor, " to give some suggestions and leaves from 
experience that may be of use to those who are 
striving to begin, in the right way, the education of 
their children." The book, published in 1886, has 
had a large sale and the entire proceeds have been 
devoted to the Hospital of St. Barnabas, which the 
author so much loved. 

Mrs. Keasbey was the eldest daughter of the 
Hon. J. W. MiUer, and she inherited well her in- 
tense love of good works from her honored mother, 



270 Historians and Essayists. 

who was so long identified with Morristown's phi- 
lanthropic and charitable work. She was born In 
the old Macculloch mansion on Macculloch Avenue 
and lived there till her marriage in 1854, after which ' 
her literary qualities and rare executive abilities 
went to adorn the city of Newark where she will 
be tenderly remembered^ and wliere her works live 
after her. 

FROM "THE CULTURE OF THE CRADLE." 

As I sit by my window on this beautiful spring 
day, preparing my article upon '^The Nurture of 
Infants," a pair of little birds are building their 
nest in the vine that grows about my piazza, so I 
take my text from them. 

How busy they are, how absorbed in their 
work ! The whole world contains for them no oth- 
er point of interest, but only this little crotch in the 
vine which they have chosen to build their cradle 
in for their future little ones. We may be quite 
sure that it is the best spot in the whole vine, not 
too shady or too sunny, just happily out of the 
reach of cruel cat or mischievous boys, and then the 
cradle will be so perfect, strong enough to resist the 
winds that shake the vine, and covered enough to 
withstand the spring rains, and warm enough to 
shelter the little ones as they crack the shell ; and 
so comfortable with its soft padding of cotton and 



Histot^ians and Essayists. 271 

down to cherish and protect the httle tender bodies 
when they come into this cold w^orld. 

I think it is nearly finished to-day, for the little 
mother has settled herself down into it and nestled 
herself in it and picked off her own soft down, and 
stuffed it in with the cotton that she had lined the 
nest with. She looks so satisfied and content, as if 
she would say, ''it is quite ready now for my little 
darlings." 

With this little mother there is no word of com- 
plaint or selfish murmur though she is going to sit 
in that nest for many a long day and dark night, 
through storm and sunshine, nntil the little ones 
come forth from their eggs to gladden her heart 
and repay her care and work of preparation. 

Can we mothers have a better teacher or a 
wiser example than this little bird, whose lessons 
in motherhood have come to her direct from her 
Creator ? 



iWris. anuie (£. OTodjran, 



Mrs. Cochran has published two books of me- 



272 Historians and Essayists. 

moirs, one in the fall of 1889, printed by Carter & 
Brothers, a '' Life" of her husband, the Eev. I. W. 
Cochran, printed for private circulation ; the other 
in 1891, a biography of her father, entitled '^Eobert 
Carter, His Life and Work, 1807-1889 ". The third 
edition of the latter is about being issued by Ran- ' 
dolph & Co. of New York. It has attracted a great 
deal of attention and has had a very large number 
of notices and criticisms, all favorable. In one of 
these Robert Carter is spoken of as " an entirely 
honest publisher," and Rev. Dr. Theodore L. Cuy- 
ler speaks of the story of his boyhood as reading 
''very much like that of the now famous Scotch 
missionary, JohnGr. Paton " and adds," The volume 
would be a profitable study for our American boys". 
He also speaks of Robert Carter, as enacting, for 
the half century of his life as a publisher in New 
York, so prominent a part in the religious move- 
ments of the time as to make his name a household 
word, especially in all the Presbyterian realm. The 
Rev. Dr. Kinsley Twining writes of the book as 
''an inspiring story of the making of a man, and 
of that man after he was made". 

Mrs. Cochran has long written occasional arti- 
cles for the papers, and leaflets for various societies. 
In one of the latter on "Woman's Work in the 
Church", she says : 

" We are apt to feel that the present activity 
of women in the mission and other Avork of the 



Historians and Essayists. 273 

church is entirely a new departure, and it may be 
strengthening to those who hke to have authority 
for their actions that they may find in Holy Writ 
both precept and example for womanly activity in 
the church." 

The writer then discusses "What woman can 
consecrate to her Master", and instances, with illus- 
trations from Holy Writ, the directions in which 
her consecration can take form, as, "1st, her home. 
Hospitality is especially a woman's virtue ;" " 2nd, 
Woman may consecrate her handiwork and her 
possessions, as did the Hebrew women for the tab- 
ernacle''; and "3rd, Woman may consecrate her 
children to Christ, and to a mother what offering 
can be more precious ?" 



Hflrg, iHflarian i£. Stocfeton. 



As to Mrs. Stockton's charming pen, we must 
reluctantly refrain from noticing her many essays 
and writings in various directions, because of the 
author's great dislike for coming into public notice. 
These writings have been principally prepared at 



274 Historians and Essayists. 

the request of literary societies and other organiza- 
tions, have always been read by some one else, and 
always publish ed and sent about by the Society or 
group of people for whom they were written. The 
title of this book compels us, however, to mention 
this gifted woman's name, and we give below an 
extract from one delightful paper, written as usual 
by request, for an important occasion, read by a dis- 
tinguished literary woman, and, as usual, published. 

FKOM "HOME AND SOCIETY. " 

It may help to a proper understanding of the 
line of thought followed in this paper if I state in 
the beginning that it is, chiefly, an attempt to get 
a definite answer to the question so often asked r 
What is Society ? It is an effort to arrive at a con- 
clusion which the majority of American women 
may be willing to accept. Otherwise Ave shall find 
ourselves so beset with perplexities that we shall 
not be able to get anything out of onr subject. For 
most persons have very vague ideas regarding soci- 
ety, and would find it difficult to express them. I 
have tried to get at the ideas of a few persons who 
might be supposed to know, with but small result. 
One says : It is a limited company of persons of 
wealth and leisure who give up their time chiefly 
to entertainments and pleasure. " This view of the 
subject suggests the familiar advertisements of a 
certain soap, reversing the sign ; for taking out the 



Historians and Essayists. 275 

pure article— z. e., the persons composing this socie- 
ty—we would have 99 i^o of the people of the 
United States with no society at all. So very little 
of the pure article will, I think, scarcely suffice to 
float this definition. 

Another says : ''It is a collection of the best 
people in a city or neighborhood who give a tone to 
the place.'' This is better, but cahs forth other 
questions. Whom do yoa mean by the " best 
people?" What is "tone"? What sort of ''tone" 
do they give i New York, New Orleans, and Poker 
Flat would give widely different answers to these 
questions. 

Another defines it as "a number, large or 
small of cultured people." This conveys a charm- 
ing idea to the mind, but it is too limited, for we 
are considering to -day society in its broadest as 
well as its best aspects ; and, surely, we would 
none of us be willing to deny to good-hearted, 
honest, decent people, the pleasure of forming a 
society of their own kind, and enjoying it in a 
rational — if uncultured — fashion. We want to-day 
to get hold of a comprehensive idea of society. 

Last summer, at a fashionable resort, I heard 
some New York ladies speaking, with admiration, 
of another lady in the hotel, and one exclaimed : 
^' What a pity she is not in Society ! " To this they 
all agreed, and another kindly asked : ' ' Can't we 
do something to help her to know people ?" As I 
knew this lady, and was aware of the fact that, 



276 Historians and Essayists. 

Tvhen she returned to the city at the beginmng of 
every season^ she sent out cards to six hundred 
people, I was much surprised ; for, if visiting and 
being visited by six hundred people is not being 
^^in society", I do not know what is. Therefore 
I could only infer that she was not in their special 
coterie. 

A very intelligent woman once told me frank- 
ly, that she could not imagine anything that could 
be called society outside the City of New York. 

Again I was told, some time ago, by a literary 
lady w^ho was then residing in this city (but who is 
not here now) : "Literary people are not recogni- 
zed in New York society." I use her own words 
and they puzzled me. Soon after, there chanced 
to fall in my way a description of New York life by 
a Frenchman who had been entertained by all sorts 
of people. He stated that the most charming soci- 
ety in this city is the literary society, and he pro- 
ceeded to paint it in glowing colors. Betw^een the 
literary lady on one side- and Max O'Eell on the 
other, I gave up that conundrum. 

These few examples of misconceptions and 
wrong-headedness in regard to what society really 
is will suffice to show how necessary it is to get a 
clear and comprehensive definition for it. To get 
this we must disentangle ourselves from all these 
figments, go back, and enter through the gate 
which naturally leads into society. 



Historians and Essayists. 277 



Mrs. Headley, lineal descendant of John Alden 
and Priscilla, and in whose possession are some 
valuable relics of the " Mayflower", is also a mem- 
ber of the family distinguished by its authors, the 
Eev. P. C. Headley, of Newburgh, N. Y., and the 
Hon. Joel T. Headley of Newton Highlands, Mass. 
The former is the author of the ''Life of Jose- 
phine", " Life of Napoleon" and many other 
volumes ; the latter wrote " Napoleon and his Mar- 
shals", ' Sacred Mountains", &c. Their father was 
born at Parsippany, nine miles from Morristown 
and their mother was the daughter of Parson Bene- 
dict of that place, but the children were born in 
New York State, and cannot therefore come 
among our authors, except in this passing mention. 

Mrs. Headley has writteu many newspaper arti- 
cles, and has been a correspondent of the Boston 
Traveller, the Wilkes-Barre Record, of the New 
York Times, — advocating the claims of the moun- 
tain laurel for our national flower, — and of the 
Morristown papers. We give her paper on the 
laurel : 



2Y8 Historians and Essayists. 

OUR NATIONAL FLOWER. 

The great centennials of 'TG, '87 and '89 have 
passed. The echoes of the cannon of our nation's 
birthday have died upon our ears. This historic 
year and century with all its hallowed memories 
and associations is drawing to its close, to be num- 
bered with those before the flood. Is not this an 
appropriate time for us to choose a national flower, 
that it may take root in the " new century" grow 
with our growth and strengthen with our strength ? 
I think so, and would urge the merits of the Kal- 
mia, the '^American laurel", as such a flower. 

It is a genus of evergreen shrubs, peculiar to 
North America, belonging to the ''Natural Order 
of Ericacese." It is dignified, graceful and beauti- 
ful, and in great request in European gardens 
fo}' its foliage as w^ell as its flowers. It blossoms 
in the early summer, speaking of youth, prosperity 
and victory. It was discovered in America, in the 
middle of the last century by Peter Kalm, a pupil 
of Linnaeus, and named by that prince of natural- 
ists — " Kalmia", in his honor. He remained here 
three years studying our flora, and on his return 
found his teacher Linnaeus, ill with the gout and 
unable to move, but the siglit of the specimen, 
brought by Kalm, so exlhlarated and enlivened his 
spirits that he forgot his bodily anguish and recov- 
ered. It is said that the flowers went to him to be 
named as the animals went to Adam. 



Hist orian s and Essayists. 2 Y9 

The sight of the "stars aud stripes" has 
brought new hfe and a quicker pulse to many a 
weary exile, away from home and friends. I 
"would that we could re-christen the American 
laurel, plant it anew in this centennial year as our 
national flower, beneath the shadow of the ''star- 
spangled banner" that one may ever recaU the 
other, that we may point to it, with as pardonable 
pride as England to her rose, France to her lily, 
Ireland to her shamrock, or Scotland to her thistle. 

Since the lay of the first minstrel was heard 
in the land, history and poetry have crowned the 
brows of her heroes with laurel, but not our Ameri- 
can laurel. Their's was the Lauras nohilis (sweet 
bay) of the old Linnaean class of Enneandria, and 
grew in the southern part of Europe and northern 
part of Africa. Their leaves were very similar to 
ours, lanceolate, leathery and perennial, but their 
flower was small and inconspicuous, four-cleft, of 
yellow-white, and grew in recimes, three or four 
together upon a common jDeduncle in the axilis of 
fhe leaves. Our flower appears in corymbs, pro- 
fuse, large, and very showy, in brilliant hues from 
deep rose to nearly white, has ten stamens confined 
by their anthers in ten cavities of a star pointed 
monopetalis corolla. One blossom is suitable for a 
'^boutoniere." Many, beautiful for a vase. The 
American laurel is found in all sections of the 
United States, from ocean to ocean, from lake to 



280 Historians and Essayists. 

gulf ; it belongs to us ; is ours. Sentiment or art 
has not yet discovered its beauties. It is unknown 
in story or song. 

The Epigaea, the ground laurel or trailing ar- 
butus is of the same family, the Ericaceae. But 
let the Pilgrims have it exclusively. It was the 
first welcome received by them on the shores of 
their "ice-rimmed bay." 

" God be praised," the Pilgrims said, 

Who saw the blossoms peer 
Above the brown leaves dry and dead, 
"Behold our Mayflower here." 
Then let it be their flower, their's alone, while 
we adopt the Kalmia, the American laurel, our 
native mountain laurel, as the national flower of 
free America. Its evergreen leaves, its monope- 
talous corolla, seemingly many, but only one, one 
and undivided, speak for the American Union. 
E pluribus unum. 



TRAVELS 

AND 

PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. 



i^ilatciui.^ tie ari)agteUux. 



The Marquis de Chastellux, counted in France 
a clever historian, is considered by us as a traveler, 
for he was one of the earliest French travelers in 
North America and, on his return to France, pub- 
lished a book entitled " Travels in North America 
in the years 1780, 1781 and 1782, by the Marquis de 
Chastellux, one of the Forty Members of the French 
Academy, and Major General in the French Army, 
serving under the Count de Eochambeau." This 
book was published in 1787 in London. In it we 
find the most graphic descriptions of the soldiers 
and officers of the Revolution, of West Point in its 



282 Travels. 

character of a military outpost ; of the road be- 
tween it and Morristown ; of the beauty and grand- 
eur of the Hudson Eiver, as it burst for the first 
time upon his vision ; of several interviews, visits 
and dinners with Washington and Lafayette, al- 
ways giving his impressions in a unique and origi- 
nal manner and with a sprinkle of humor which 
keeps a continuous smile upon the lips of the reader 
as he progresses in this remarkable narrative. It is 
really most difficult to choose from this fascinating 
hook, for the short space we can allow. 

In speaking of his arrival hei-e he refers to the 
Arnold Tavern, which may still be seen, removed 
from its original location but restored with great 
care, (though enlarged), and is now standing on 
Mt. Kemble Avenue, the old ^'Baskingridge Koad" 
of the Eevolution. He says : "I intended stop- 
ping at Morris Town only to bait my horses, for it 
was only half past two, but on entering the inn of 
Mr. Arnold, I saw a dining room adorned with look- 
ing glasses and handsome mahogany furniture and 
a table spread for twelve persons. I learned that 
all this preparation was for me and what affected 
me more nearly was to see a dinner corresponding 
with the appearances, ready to serve up. I was 
indebted for this to the goodness of General 
Washington and the precautions of Colonel IVloy- 
land who had sent before to acquaint them with 
my arrival. It would have been very ungenerous 



Travels. 283 

to have accepted this dinner at the expenses of Mr. 
Arnold who is an honest man and a ^ood Whig 
and who has not a particle in common with Bene- 
dict Arnold ; it would have been still more awk- 
ward to have paid for the banquet without eating 
it. I therefore instantly determined to dine and 
sleep in this comfortable inn. The Vicomte de 
Noailles, the Comte de Damas, &c., were expected 
to make up the dozen." 

Chastellux apparently came as a passing trav- 
eler and seems to have been induced to prolong his 
stay and during that time gives us very graphic and 
interesting glimpses, to which we have referred, of 
the General and his officers, dinners at which he 
was present, reviews of troops, the army itself and 
its condition, with passing reflections about the 
country and the manners and customs of the time. 
Among the latter remarks, he observes : ' 'Here, as 
in England, by gentleman is understood a person 
possessing a considerable freeliold, or land of his 
own." Of the officers, he says : 

" I must observe on this occasion the General 
Officers of the American Army have a very mili- 
tary and a very becoming carriage ; that even all 
the officers, whose characters were brought into 
public view, unite much politeness to a great deal 
of capacity; that the headquarters of this army, in 
short, neither present the image of want nor inex- 
perience. When one sees the battalion of the Gen- 



284 Travels. 

eral's Guards encamped within the precincts of his 
house; nine waggons, destined to carry his baggage, 
range in his court ; a great number of grooms tak- 
ing care of very fine horses belonging to the Gen- 
eral Officers and their Aides de Camp ; when one 
observes the perfect order that reigns within these 
precincts, where the guards are exactly stationed, 
and where the drums beat an alarm, and a particu- 
lar retreat, one is tempted to apply to the Ameri- 
cans what Pyrrhus said of the Romans : Truly 
these people have nothing harharous in their disci- 
pline. " 

Of his coming to Morristown, he says : ''I 
pursued my journey, sometimes through fine woods 
at others through well cultivated lands and villages 
inhabited by Dutch families. One of these vil- 
lages, which forms a little township bears the 
beautiful name of Troy. Here the country is more 
open and continues so to Morris-Toiun. This town 
celebrated by the winter quarters of 1779, is about 
three and twenty miles from Peakness, the name 
of the headquarters from whence I came : It is situ- 
ated on a height, at the foot of which runs the 
rivulet called Vipenny River ; tlie houses are hand- 
some and well built, there are about sixty or eighty 
round the meeting-house." 

The Marquis tells of his reception at the Camp 
of Lafayette and, in giving us his picture, he gives 
us also what is of value to us in this day,— a 



Travels. 285 

Frenchman's impression of Lafayette in America : 
"Whilst they were making this shght repast, I 
went to see the Camp of the Marquis, it is thus 
they call M. de La Fayette : the English language 
being fond of abridgments and titles uncommon in 
America." Here, our eye is attracted to a note of 
the Translator, (an Englishman residing- in Ameri- 
ca,) — who says, with much more besides: "It is 
impossible to paint the esteem and affection with 
which this French nobleman is regarded in America. 
It is to be surpassed only by the love of their illus- 
trious chief." 

"The rain appearing to cease," continues the 
Marquis, "or inclined to cease for a moment, we 
availed ourselves of the opportunity to follow his 
Excellency to the Camp of the Marquis ; we found 
all his troops in order of battle, on the heights on 
the left, and himself at their head ; expressing by 
his air and countenance, that he was happier in re- 
ceiving me there, than at his estate in Auvergne. 
The confidence and attachment of the troops, are 
for him invaluable possessions, well acquired riches, 
of which no body can deprive him ; but what, in 
my opinion, is still more flattering for a young- 
man of his age, is the influence, the consideration 
he has acquired amongst the political, as well as 
the military order ; I do not feai* contradictions 
when I say that private letters from him have fre- 
quently produced more effect on some states than 



28G Travels. 

the strongest exhortations of the Congress. On 
seeing him one is at a loss which most to admire, 
that so young a man as he should have given such 
eminent proofs of talents, or that a man so tried, 
should give hopes of so long a career of glory." 

His impression of the Hudson at West Point, 
will interest us all; "I continued my jour- 
ney in the woods in a road hemmed in on both 
sides by very steep hills which seemed admir- 
ably adapted for the dwelling of bears, and 
where, in fact, they often make their appear- 
ance in Winter. We availed ourselves at length 
of a less difficult part of these mountains to 
turn to the westward and approach the river but 
which is still invisible. Descending them slowly, 
at the turning of the road, my eyes were struck 
with the most magnificent picture I had ever be- 
held. It was a view of the North Eiver, running 
in a deep channel, formed by the mountains, 
through which, in former ages it had forced its 
passage. The fort of West Point and the formid- 
able batteries which defend it fix the attention on 
the Western bank, but on lifting your eyes, you 
behold on every side lofty summits, thick set with 
redoubts and batteries." 

One more passage we must give in this day of 
Morristown's horsemanship ; in this year of '93 
when all young Morristown is jumping fences and 
ditches in pursuit of the fox or the fox's represen- 



Travels. 287 

tative. It is Chastellux's reference to Washington's 
horsemanship : ''The weather being fair, on the 
26th I got on horseback, after breakfasting with 
the General. He was so attentive as to give me 
the horse he rode on the day of my arrival, which 
I had greatly commended ; I found him as good as 
he is handsome ; but above all perfectly well broke, 
and well trained, having a good mouth, easy in 
hand, and stopping short in a gallop without bear- 
ing the bit. I- mention these minute particulars, 
because it is the General himself who breaks all his 
own horses ; and he is a very excellent and bold 
horseman, leaping the highest fences, and going 
extremely quick, without standing upon his stir- 
rups, bearing on the bridle, or letting his horse run 
wild ; circumstances which our young men look 
upon as so essential a part of English horseman- 
ship, that they would rather break a leg or an arm 
than renounce them." 



Joiju il. Stepljeng. 



Over fifty years ago, a traveler in Central 



288 ■ Travels. 

America, Mr. John L. Stephens, records a curious 
and interesting allusion to Morristown, which we 
give below, from one of the two volumes entitled 
" Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas 
and Yucatan, by John L. Stephens, Esq., author of 
' Incidents of Travel in Egypt, Arabia Petrsea and 
the Holy Land, ' etc."; Twelfth Edition; publish- 
ed in VS^'d. He says. Vol. II, page 61 : 

"In the midst of the war rumours, the next 
day, which was Sunday, was one of- the most quiet 
I passed in Central America. It was at the ha- 
cienda of Dr. Drivon, about a league from Zonzon- 
ate. This was one of the finest haciendas in the 
country. The doctor had imported a large sugar 
mill, which was not yet set up, and was preparing 
to manufacture sugar upon a larger scale than any 
other planter in the country. He was from the is- 
land of St. Lucie and, before settling in this out- 
of-the-way place, had travelled extensively in 
Europe and the West India Islands and knew 
America from Halifax to Cape Horn, but surprised 
me by saying that he looked forward to a cottage 
in Morristown, New Jersey, as the consummation 
of his wishes." 



Travels. 289 



Mr. Washburn, who hved for several years in 
Morristown, was the brother of our late Minister to 
France. His most popular work is ''The History 
of Paraguay," in two volumes, written while he 
Tvas Commissioner and Minister Kesident of the 
United States at Asuncion from 1861 to 1868. The 
writer may truly add on his title page, " Eemi- 
niscences of Diplomacy under Dii^iculties." As is 
well known, Mr. Washburn was minister to Para- 
guay under Lopez, one of the three most noted 
tyrants of South America, whose character is ad- 
mirably brought out in this history of the country. 
His description of Lopez is wonderfully graphic. 
The work is so exhaustive that we get up from it 
with a feeling, '' We know Paraguay ". Besides 
this ''History of Paraguay", Mr. Washburn has 
also written " Gomery of Montgomery", in two 
volumes and " Political Evolution from Poverty to 
Competence ". 

At the close of the first volume, we find a 
masterly summhig up of the singular character of 
Lopez, in these words : 

" Previous to the death of Lopez, history fur- 
nishes no example of a tyrant so despicable and 



290 Travels. 

cruel that at his fall he left no friend among his 
own people ; no apologist or defender, no follower 
or participant of his infamies, to utter one word 
in palliation of his crimes ; no one to regret his 
death, or who cherished the least spark of love for 
his person or his memory ; no one to utter a prayer 
for the repose of his soul. In this respect, Lopez 
had surpassed all tyrants who ever lived. No soon- 
er was he dead, than all alike, the oi^cer high in 
command, the subaltern who applied the torture, 
the soldier who passively obeyed, the mother who- 
bore him, and the sisters who once loved him, all 
joined in denouncing him as an unparalleled mon- 
ster ; and of the whole Paraguayan nation there is 
perhaps not one of the survivors who does not 
curse his name, and ascribe to his folly, selfishness, 
ambition and cruelty all the evils that his unhappy 
country has suffered. Not a family remains wjiich 
does not charge him with having destroyed the 
larger part of its members and reduced the survi- 
vors to misery and want. Of all those' who Avere 
within reach of his death-dealing hand during the 
last years of his power, there are but two persons 
living to say a word in mitigation of the judg- 
ment pronounced against him by his countrymen 
and country-women." 



Travels. 291 

fficncval Sio^epl) fflgaarren Mebete. 



The late General Revere, one of Morristown's 
old and well-known residents,— of Huguenot de- 
scent, and a grandson of the Revolutionary hero, 
Paul Revere, — wrote, at the close of his military 
and naval career, a graphic and interesting book of 
travels entitled ' ' Keel and Saddle ; a Retrospect of 
Forty Years of Military and Naval Service"; pub- 
lished in 1872 by James R. Osgood of Boston. 
Another book, which had a large circulation, ap- 
peared later, called " A Tour of Duty in California." 

General Revere tells us in "Keel and Saddle" 
that he entered the United States Navy at the age 
of fourteen years as a midshipman and, after a 
short term spent at the Naval School at the New 
York Navy Yard, he sailed on his first cruise to the 
Pacific Ocean on board the frigate " Guerriere", 
"bearing the pennant of Com. Charles C. B. 
Thompson, in the summer of the year 1828." For 
three years he served in the Pacific Squadron. 
After cruising in many waters and experiencing 
the various vicissitudes of naval life, in 1832 he 
passed his examination for lieutenant and sailed in 
the frigate " Constitution" for France. 

During this Mediterranean cruise, when he 



292 Travels. 

made his first visit to Eome, he saw Madame Leti- 
tia, mother of the first Napoleon, by whom he 
was received with a small party of American offi- 
cers. We shall give this scene as he so well de- 
scribes it, in "Keel and Saddle". In this book, 
(page 140), occurs also a very fine description of a 
great oceanic disturbance known to mariners in 
southern seas as a '^ comber", or great wave, which 
suddenly encountered, causes the destruction of 
many vessels. 

It was in 1832 that General Revere met Madame 
Letitia, and wrote as follows : 

"Madame Mere or Madame Letitia, as she was 
usually called, being requested to grant an inter- 
view to a small party of American officers, of which 
I was one, graciously assented, and fixed a day for 
the reception at the palace she occupied. 

" Repairing thither at the hour appointed, after 
a short detention in a spacious ante- chamber, we 
were ushered into one of those lofty saloons com- 
mon to Italian palaces, handsomely, not gorgeously 
furnished, and opening by spacious windows into a 
beautiful garden. There, with her back towards 
the subdued light from the windows, we saw an el- 
derly lady reclining on a sofa, in a graceful attitude 
of repose. She was attended by three ladies, who 
all remained standing during our visit. In the re- 
cess of one of the windows, on a tall pedestal of an- 
tique marble, stood a magnificent bust of the em- 



Travels. 293 

peror ; while upon the walls of the saloon, in ele- 
gant frames, were hung the portraits of her child- 
ren, all of whom had been kings and queens — of 
royal rank though not of royal lineage. Ma- 
dame Letitia received us with perfect courtesy, 
without rising from her reclining position ; mo- 
tioning us gracefully to seats with a polite gesture 
of a hand and arm still of noble contour and daz- 
zling whiteness. It w^as easy to see where the 
emperor got his small white hands, of which he 
was so vain, as we are told ; while the classic regu- 
larity of his well-known features w^as clearly trace- 
able in the lineaments of the lady before us. Her 
head was covered with a cap of lace ; and her some- 
what haughty but expressive face, beaming with 
intelligence, was framed in clustering curls a V an- 
tique. Her eyes were brilliant, large and piercing, 
(I think they could hardly have been more so in 
her youth) ; and the lines of her mouth and chin 
gave an expression of firmness, courage and deter- 
mination to a fine physiognomy perfectly in char- 
acter with the historical antecedents and attributes 
of Letitia Eamolini. Of the rest of her dress, we 
saw but little ; her bust being covered by a lace 
handkerchief crossed over the bosom, and her dark 
silk robe partially concealed by a superb cashmere 
shawl thrown over the lower part of her person. 
She opened the conversation by making some com- 
plimentary remark about our country ; asking 



294 Travels. 

after her son Joseph, who resided then at Borden- 
town, N. J.; and seemed pleased at receivmg news 
of him from one of our party, who had seen him 
not long before. She asked this officer whether 
the King ile roi d'Espagne) still resembled the por- 
trait in her possession which was a very fine one : 
and upon our asking permission to examine the 
bust of the emperor, the greatest of her sons, told 
us that it was considered a fine work of art, it be- 
ing, indeed, from the chisel of Canova ; adding, I 
fancied with a little sigh of melancholy, 'II resem- 
ble beaucoup a Tempereur.' After some further 
commonplaces, she signified in the most delicate 
and dignified manner, more by looks than by words, 
addressed to the ladies of our party, referring to 
her rather weak state of health, that the interview 
should terminate ; and, having made our obeisance, 
w^e left her. " 



liH'nvp Dap. 



In 1874, an intei-esting volume of trav(4s ap- 

*Die(l since the first printing of this sketch, in the first edition of the 
book, on January lird, 18*.)o. 



Travels. 205 

peared, entitled ''A Lawyer Abroad. What to See 
and How to See : by Henry Day, of the Bar of 
New York." 

Mr. Day's house '' On the Hill ", with its superb 
view, is occupied only in summer ; but year after 
year, w^ith the birds and the spring sunshine, he has 
returned to us from his home in New York, so he 
has been thoroughly associated with Morristown. 
His book, unlike a large majority of " Travels", is 
not merely a " Tourist's Guide" or a series of de- 
scriptive sketches hung together by commonplace 
reflections, and interlarded with meaningless draw- 
ing-room or road-side dialogue. Evidently it is 
written with a high purpose and it is rich in valua- 
He information concerning men and things, as if 
the writer himself were in living touch w^ith the • 
best interests of humanity whether found in the 
■cities of Egypt, among the learned and polished 
minds of Edinburgh or in the Wynds of Glasgow, 
of which he so graphically says : 

" They are now long, filthy, airless lanes, 
packed with buildings on each side and each build- 
ing packed with human beings ; and, geographi- i 11 
cally as well as morally they receive the drainage 
of all the surrounding city of Glasgow." 

Here it was, in the old Tron Church, that Dr. 
Ohalmers did his finest preaching and his most ef- 
fective practical work. Mr. Day has an evident 
loving sympathy with the great Scotch preacher, 



296 Travels. 

quite apart from the intellectual qualities of his gi- 
gantic mind. In these few condensed pages, Mr. 
Day has given us a more compact idea of Dr, 
Chalmers' work than may be found in many elabo- 
rated chapters of his life. 

The chapter upon ''The Lawyers and Judges- 
of England" is one of exceptional interest to those 
in the profession, as well as to those out of it, and 
this is one unique quality of the book — that we 
have given to us the impressions of a traveler from 
a lawyer's standpoint, not only in England, but in 
Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Holland, Swit- 
zerland, Grreece, Turkey, Egypt and the Holy Land. 
And, not only from a lawyer's standpoint does he 
see the world, but evidently from the standpoint of 
a man of high general culture whose spiritual and 
religious sentiments and principles enlighten and 
illuminate his understanding. 

In the chapter on "The Early Life of Great 
Men", speaking of Edinburgh, he says : 

" Everything gives you the feeling that you are 
among the most learned and polished minds of the 
present and past generations. It is not business or 
wealth that has given to Edinburgh its prominence. 
It is learning ; it is its great men." 

One of Mr. Day's finest descriptions is found in 
his chapter on the Nile. 

In 1877 this author published, through Put- 
nams' Sons, a book having the title /'From the 



Travels. 297 

Pyrenees to the Pillars of Hercules", giving sketch- 
es of scenery, art and life in Spain. 

Mr. Day has also written largely for a few 
years past for publication in The Neiv York Evan- 
gelist on the great questions now agitating the 
Presbyterian Church, namely, the revision of its 
creed called ''The Confession of Faith" and also 
on the Briggs case and the Union Theological Semi- 
nary case. Mr. Day has wisely said himself of this 
writing : " This newspaper writing can hardly be 
called authorship although the articles are more 
important than the books." 



THEOLOGIANS, 



l^eb. Simoti))) Jr)l)ue!S, JB. B 



Of the historic characters of Morristown, none 
are more prominent than the Eev. Dr. Johnes, who 
began his pastorate in the old ' ' Meeting House" of 
Morristown which was reared shortly before his 
coming. His labors began August 13th, 1742. He 
was ordained and installed February 9th, 1743, and 
continued pastor through the scenes of the Ee volu- 
tion till his death in 1791. He was the friend of 
Washington and supported him effectually in many 
of the measures he adopted in which his strong in- 
fluence with the community was of great weight 
and value. 

It was the daughter of Eev. Dr. Johnes, Theo- 
dosia, who married Col. Jacob Ford, jr., who 
lived at what is now known as the Washington 



Theologians. 299 

Headquarters and offered the hospitality of her 
mansion to Washington during his second winter 
at Morristown. He also offered the Presbyterian 
church building for hospital use during the terrible 
scourge of small-pox — himself acting as chief 
nurse to the soldiers, — and, with his congregation, 
worshipped for many months in the open air, on a 
spot still shown behind his house, on Morris street, 
which is standing to-day, and until recently owned 
and occupied by Mrs. Eugene Ayers, from whom it 
was purchased, in February 1893, for the " Morris- 
town Memorial Hospital". It was on this spot, in 
a natural basin which the congregation occupied as 
being somewhat sheltered from the bitter winds of 
winter, and which may still be seen, that good 
Pastor Johnes administered the Communion to 
Washington . "This was the only time, " says Rev. 
Dr. Green, in his "Morristown" in the "History of 
Morris County", after his entrance upon his public 
career, that Washington is certainly known to have 
partaken of the Lord's Supper. In The Record for 
June and August, 1880, we find a full account of 
this historic incident. As the Communion time 
drew near, Washington sought good Pastor Johnes, 
we are told, and inquired of him, if membership of 
the Presbyterian church was required "As a term 
of admission to the ordinance." To this the doctor 
replied, "ours is not the Presbyterian table, but the 
Lord's table, and we hence give the Lord's invita- 



300 Theologians. 

tion to all his followers of whatever name." " On 
the following Sabbath," says Dr. Grreen, "in the 
cold air, the General was present with the congre- 
gation, assembled in the orchard in the rear of the 
parsonage", on the spot before referred to, "and 
joined with them in the solemn service of Com- 
munion." 

In the family of good Pastor Johnes — a grand- 
daughter of whom, Mrs. 0. L. Kirtland, is with us 
still, the last of a large number of brothers and sis- 
ters, — it has been known for generations that they 
originated in Wales. We have from Mrs. Kirt- 
land's grand- daughter. Miss Louise Kii'tland Sh el- 
ton, the following interesting record : 

" Rev. Timothy Johnes came to Morristown, N. 
J., from Southampton about 1742. His great-great- 
grand-father, Eichard Johnes, of Somerset, Eng., 
descended from a younger branch of the Johnes of 
Dolancotlie in Caemarthenshire, Wales, came over 
and settled in Charleston, Mass., in 1G30, was made 
constable, and had 'Mr.' before his name, an hon- 
or in those days. He went to live at Southampton, 
L. I., in 1641:, and he and his descendants held im- 
portant positions there for nearly two hundred 
years. Burke's "Landed Gentry" states that the 
Johnes were descended from Urien Reged, one of 
King Arthur's Knights, and who built the Castle 
Caer Caenin, and traced descent back to Godebog, 
King of Britain. But accurate record must begin 



Theologians. 30 1 

at a later date, when William Johnes, in the reign 
of Elizabeth, was Commander on the ' Crane' and 
killed in a battle against the Spanish Armada." 

Eev. Timothy Johnes, D. D., was the great- 
great-grandson of the first Johnes who arrived in 
this country. Eev. Timotliy graduated at Yale in 
1737 ; was born in 1717 and died in 1794. He re- 
ceived many ordination calls while at Southamp- 
ton, Long Island, and was perplexed as to which 
one to accept, so "he referred the matter, "says the 
great-grand-daughter before referred to, "to Prov- 
idence, deciding to accept the next one made. 
He had not risen from his knees more than twenty 
minutes, when two old men came to his house and 
asked him to become pastor of a small congrega- 
tion that had collected at Morristown, then called 
by the Indian tongue Eockciticus. When nearly 
here, after traveling long in the forest, he inquired 
of his guides : ' Where is Eockciticus V ' Here 
and there and everywhere, ' was the reply, and so 
it was, scattered through the woods." 

Of Dr. Johnes' children, — Theodosia, as we 
have stated, was the hostess of Washington at the 
Ford mansion, her home, and now the Washington 
Headquarters. Anna, the eldest daughter, married 
Joseph Lewis and is the ancestress of one of oui* 
distinguished authors, the Eev. Theodore Ledyard 
Cuyler, D. D. The daughter of this Anna Lewis 
married Charles Morrell and they occupied the 



302 Theologians. 

house of Mr. AVm. L. Kiug on Morris St., and 
there, says family tradition, entertained Lafayette 
as their guest in the winter of '79 and '80. Their 
daughter, Louisa, married Ledyard Cuyler and 
they had a sou, Theodore Ledyard Cuyler, well- 
known to us and to all the world. Mary Anna, a 
grand daughter, married Mr. Williams, of Xew- 
burg, and others of the family followed there. 
They pronounce the name John-es, giving up the 
long o (Jones), of the old Doctor's sounding of the 
name. A grandson, Frank, went west and had a 
large family who are more or less distinguished in 
Decatur, Illinois. They omit the e in the name 
and call themselves Johns. It is only in Morris- 
town that the family retain the original spelling of 
Johnes and pronunciation of Jones. 

Tiie son of the old Doctor, William, remained 
in the old house, and there brought up a large fam- 
ily of whom the above two, named, were members ; 
also Mrs. Alfred Canfield who long lived on South 
street opposite old St. Peter's Church. Mrs. Kirt- 
land the youngest daughter of Pastor Johnes, with 
her daughter, Mrs. Charlotte Johnes Slielton, and 
her granddaughters, the Misses Shelton and Mrs. 
Malilon Pitney, and the young greatgrandson, son 
of the last named, make four generations of the 
family in Morristown at the present time. 

One of the old Doctor's sons was named, as we 
might expect, George Washington, and was the 



Theologians. SOB 

grandfather of Mrs. Theodore Little, and built the 
old house on the hill near our beautiful Evergreen 
Cemetery. This house was built soon after Wash- 
ington's occupation of Morristown, and the large 
place including the ancient house has lately been 
sold and is rapidly being laid out in streets and lots, 
as the demand comes from the increasing popula- 
tion of our city. Fortunate are we to have so 
many of the old land- marks left to us. 

Mrs. Woodruff, the step-mother, honored and 
beloved, of Mrs., Whelpley Dodge, was also a daugh- 
ter of old Doctor Johnes. 

Another son of the old Doctor was Dr. John 
B. Johnes, who built the house with columns op- 
posite the old place, still standing, and there he 
lived and died, high in his profession, greatly 
honored and beloved. His daughter Margaret, was 
the stejD-mother of another of our distinguished 
men and writers, the Rev. Arthur Mitchell, D. D. 

And so we find this ancient family from 
Wales, the land of the poetic Celts, and many of 
whom are yet living in that corner of the world 
from which these came, still sending on their in- 
fluence and maintaining their high standard of 
principle and honor, which characterized good Pas- 
tor Johues, during the fifty years of his ministry in 
Morristown. 



304 Theologians. 



The Eev. Dr. Eichards, who was settled as the 
third pastor over the Fh'st Church of Morristown, 
May 1st, 1795, was a theological author, many of 
whose sermons and other writings are puhlished, 
and a man of scholarly attainments. He is called 
by one of his biographers, ''one of the greater 
lights of our American church". Dr. Eichards, 
like Dr. Johnes, was of Welsh descent. His first 
ancestor, Samuel Eichards, a youth of eighteen 
years, came to this country from Wales in the 
reign of Queen Anne. 

The salary of the pastor of the Morristown 
church, in Dr. Eichards' time, was small, — 8440, in 
quarterly payments, the use of the parsonage, and 
firewood. To supplement this income, resort was 
had to a *' wood-frolic", which was, we are told, a 
great event in the parish and to which the men 
brought the minister's years' supply of fuel and for 
which the ladies prepared a supper. The ''spin- 
ning-visit" was another feature of his pastorate, 
on which occasion were brought various amounts 
of "linen thread, yard and cloth". The thread 
brought, being not always of the same texture and 
size, it was often a puzzle indeed to the weaver to 



Theologians. 305 

^^make the cloth and finish it aUke". What won- 
der, with so small an income and a growing family, 
that, even after fourteen years of marked success 
in his ministry in the First Church of Morristown, 
Dr. Eichards should have accepted a call, in June, 
1809, from the First Church of Newark, N. J. ! 
This Tvas the old, historic church of that city, with 
which the names of Pierson and Burr and Mac- 
AThorter are associated, and this church, with rare 
executive ability, Dr. Eichards carried safely and 
harmoniously through the difficult process of send- 
ing out two off -shoots — the Second and Third Pres- 
byterian Churches of Newark. After fourteen 
years, again, of devoted service there, he resigned 
the charge and became Professor of Theology in 
the Auburn (N. Y.) Theological Seminary and died, 
" fuU of honors", on August 2nd, 184:3, in his seven- 
ty-sixth year. 

In 18i6, was published, by Eev. Samuel H. 
G-ridley, D. D., of Waterloo, N. Y., a large volume 
of Dr. Eichards' ' ^ Lectures on Mental Philosophy 
and Theology ; with a Sketch of his Life". In 
18J:9, Eev. Wm. B. Sprague, D. D., pubhshed an- 
other volume of '^ Sermons by the Late Eev. James 
Eichards, D. D. ; with an Essay on his Character". 



306 Theologians. 



Fifth in order of these early divines of the 
Morristown First Church, is the Eev. Albert 
Barnes. He occupied this pastorate from 1825 to- 
June 1830. It was here that he preached, in 1829, 
that remarkable sermon, " The Way of Salvation "^ 
which was the entering wedge that prepared the 
way for the unfortunate division among the Pres- 
byterians into the two schools Old and New, which 
division and the names attached to each side, it 
may gladly be said, came to an end by a happy 
union of the two branches, some years ago. 

The Eev. Albert Barnes was also a pioneer of 
the Temperance movement in Morristown and his- 
eloquence and influence in this cause resulted in 
the closing of several distilleries. From Morris- 
town he was called to Philadelphia, where he passed 
through his severest trials. It is needless to men- 
tion that he was a voluminous writer and that he 
has made a world-wide reputation by his valuable 
^' Notes on the Gospels", so well-known to all 
Biblical scholars. We are impressed with the rare 
modesty of so eminent a writer and distinguished 
divine when we read that the Rev. Albert Barnes 
several times refused the title of " D. D. ", from 
conscientious motives. 



Theologians. 307 

Among the celebrated sermons and addresses 
published by this author was one very powerful 
sermon on '' The Sovereignty of God", and also an 
"Address delivered July 4th, 1827, '' at the Presby- 
terian church, Morristown. In the '^Advertise- 
ment " or preface, to the former, the author says 
in pungent words ; "It was written during the 
haste ~of a weekly preparation for the Sabbath and 
is not supposed to contain anything new on the sub- 
ject. ^ ^ ''^ The only wonder is that it (the very 
plain doctrine of the Bible) should ever have been 
called in question or disputed — ^or that in a world 
where man's life and peace and hopes, all depend 
on the truth that god reigns, such a doctrine 
should have ever needed any demonstration.'^ 

The condition of Morristown when Mr. Barnes 
came into the pastorate, in respect of intemper- 
ance was almost beyond the power of imagination, 
serious as the evil seems to ^£ at the present day. 
He found ' ' drinking customs in vogue and distil- 
leries dotted all over the parish." Fearlessly he set 
himself to stem this evil, which indeed he did suc- 
ceed in arresting to a large extent. His "Essays 
on Temperance" are marvellous productions, as 
full of fire and energy and the power of conviction 
to-day as when first issued from the press, and 
these addresses were so powerful in their effect on 
the community that "soon," says our historian, 
Kev. Dr. G-reen, "seventeen (of the 19) distilleries 



308 Theologians. 

were closed and not long after his departure, the 
fires of the other two went out." 

In the course of one of his arguments, he says : 
^' There are many, flitting in pleasure at an ima- 
gined rather than a real distance, who may be 
saved from entering the place of the wretched dying, 
and of the horrid dead. Here I wish to take my 
stand. I wish to tell the mode in which men be- 
come abandoned. In the language of a far better 
moralist and reprover than I am (Dr. Lyman 
Beecher), I wish to lay down a chart of this way to 
destruction, and to rear a monument of warning 
upon every spot where a wayfaring man has been 
ensnared and destroyed. 

''I commence with the position that no man 
probably ever became designedly a drunkard. I 
mean that no man ever sat down coolly and looked 
at the redness of eyes, the haggardness of aspect, 
the weakness of limbs, the nausea of stomach, the 
profaneness and obscenity and babbling of a drunk- 
ard and deliberately desired all these. I shall be 
slow to believe that it is in human nature to wish 
to plunge into all this wretchedness. Why is it 
then that men become drunkards ? I answer it is 
because the vice steals on them silently. It fastens 
on them unawares, and they find themselves wal- 
lowing in all this corruption, before they think of 
danger." 

The power and beauty of Mr. Barnes' most 



Theologians. 309 

celebrated sermon on the "The Way of Salvation", 
impresses the reader, from page to page. Towards 
the close, he says : 

FEOM "THE WAY OF SALVATION." 

The scheme of salvation, I regard, as offered to 
the world, as free as the light of heaven, or the 
rains that burst on the mountains, or the full swel- 
ling of broad rivers and streams, or the heavings of 
the deep. And though millions do not receive it — 
though in regard to them the benefits of the plan 
are lost, and to them, in a certain sense, the plan 
may be said to be in vain, yet I see in this the hand 
of the same God that pours the rays of noonday on 
barren sands and genial showers on desert rocks, 
and gives life, bubbling springs and flowers, where 
no man is in our eyes, yet not to His, in vain. So< 
is the offer of eternal life, to every man here, to ev- 
ery man everywhere, sincere and full — an offer that 
though it may produce no emotions in the sinner's 
bosom here, would send a thrill of joy through all 
the panting bosoms of the suffering damned. 



310 Theologians. 

meb. Samuel 212ai)e(plnj. 



Eev. Mr. Whelpley became the Principal of 
Morris Academy in 1797 and remained until 1805. 
He came from New England and was originally a 
Baptist^ but in Morristown he gave up the plan 
which he had cherished of becoming a Baptist min- 
ister and united with the Presbyterian church. In 
1803, he gave his reasons for this change of views, 
publicly, in a "Discourse delivered in the First 
Church" and published. His "Historical Com- 
pend", in two volumes, is one of his important 
works. It contains, "A brief survey of the great 
line of history from the earliest time to the present 
day, together with a general view of the world with 
respect to Civilization, Eeligion and Government, 
and a brief dissertation on the importance of his- 
torical knowledge." 

This author was not, by-the-way, the father of 
Chief Justice Whelpley, of Morristown, who also is 
noticed in this book, but was the cousin of his fa- 
ther. Dr. William A. Whelpley, a practicing physi- 
cian here. 

"Lectures on Ancient History, together with 
an allegory of Genius and Taste" was another of 
Mr. Whelpley's books. Among his works, perhaps 



Theologians. 311 

the most celebrated was, and is, "The Triangle", a 
theological work which is "A Series of numbers 
upon Three Theological Points, enforced from Va- 
rious Pulpits in the City of New York." This was 
published in 1817, and a new edition in 1832. In this 
work, says Hon. Edmund D. Halsey, "the leaders 
and views of what was long afterward known as 
the Old School Theology were keenly criticised and 
ridiculed. The book caused a grea.t sensation in its 
day and did not a little toward hastening the divi- 
sion in the Presbyterian Church into Old and New 
School." This book was published without the au- 
thor's name, by "Investigator". In it the author 
.says : 

FROM "THE TRIANGLE." 

You shall hear it inculcated from Sabbath to 
Sabbath in many of our cliurches, and swallowed 
down, as a sweet morsel, by many a gaping mouth, 
that a man ought to feel himself actually guilty of 
a sin committed six thousand years before he was 
born ; nay, that prior to all consideration of his 
own moral conduct, he ought to feel himself de- 
serving of eternal damnation for the first sin of 
Adam. ^ ^' ^ No such doctrine is taught in the 
Scriptures, or can impose itself on any rational 
mind, which is not trammeled by education, daz- 
zled by interest, warped by prejudice and be wild- 



312 Theologians. 

ered by theory. This is one corner of the triangle 
above mentioned. 

This doctrine perpetually urged, and the subse- 
quent strain of teaching usually attached to it, will 
not fail to drive the incautious mind to secret and 
practical, or open infidelity. An attempt to force 
such monstrous absurdities on the human under- 
standing, will be followed by the worst effects. A 
man who finds himself condemned for that of 
which he is not guilty will feel little regret for his 
real transgressions. 

I shall not apply these remarks to the purpose 
I had in view, till I have considered some other 
points of a similar character ; — or, if I may resort 
to the metaphor alluded to, till I have pointed out 
the other tw^o angles of the triangle. 



Stebeu!^ Jones Hetoig. 



Mr. Lewis was a grandson of Eev. Dr. Timothy 
Johnes and great uncle of the Eev. Theodore L. 
Cuyler, D. D. He was a theologian whose writings 
made a ripple in the orthodox stream of thought^ 



Theologians. 313 

and was disciplined in the First church for his 
doctrines. He pubhshed two pamphlets in justifi- 
cation of his peculiar views. The first was on 
^^The Moral Creation the peculiar work of Christ. 
A very different thing from that of the Physical 
Creation which is the exclusive work of God," 
printed in Morristown by L. B. Hull, in 1838. Also 
there was one entitled ' ' Showing the manner in 
which they do things in the Presbyterian church in 
the Nineteenth Century". "For the rulers had 
agreed already that if any man did confess that 
Jesus was Christ ('was Christ, not God Almighty'), 
he should be put out of the synagogue." "Morris- 
town, N. J., Printed for the author, 1837." 



15eb. Babitr Jrlnng, US, M. 



Kev. Dr. Irving was pastor of the First Presby- 
terian Church of Morristown, for ten years, from 
1855 to 1865. He resigned this charge to become 
Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the 
Presbyterian Church and remained in that position 
until his death in October, 1885. While he held 



314 Theologians. 

this office, he was editor of The Fo7^eign Missionary^ 
a monthly publication of the Board, for fourteen 
years. Many addresses, dehvered by him as repre- 
senting the Foreign Board, in the General Assem- 
bly, were published, and a paper read by him be- 
fore the Pan-Presbyterian Council, which met in 
Eelfast, Ireland, in 1884, and to which he was elec- 
ted a delegate, was also pubhshed ; subject : " The 
Eelation of Mission Churches to the Home Church- 
•es." 

Dr. Irving was born in Annandale, Scotland, 
in 1821, and received his education in that country. 
He removed to Tennessee in 1839 and engaged in 
teaching until he entered Princeton Theological 
Seminary and was graduated in 1846 in the same 
class with Eev. Theodore L. Cuyler, D. D. 

Dr. Irving, while in Morristown, contributed 
largely to the Publications of the Presbyterian 
Church, chiefly in the direction of missionary 
topics. During this time several addresses of his 
were published by request, among them, one on 
" The Preparatoiy work of Christian Missions" ; a 
Thanksgiving Sermon, preached during the distur- 
bing tinies previous to our late war and entitled 
*'The Former Times Contrasted with the Present", 
and an address delivered at his old home in Scot- 
land, in 1SG3, on " The American Struggle ; its Na- 
ture and Objects". The last-named was published 
in many of the English and Scotch papers, and 



Theologians. 315 

called forth discussion and complimentary remarks 
on the valuable and instructive facts which it con- 
tained. On Thanksgiving Day, 1861, he preached 
an historical sermon in the old First Church which 
was published in The Recorrl of that Church in 
1881 as part of its history ; and on Thanksgiving 
Day, 1862, a second historical sermon, also publish- 
ed in the same paper. On the first Sabbath after 
the renovation of the First Church, Sept. 18th, 
1859, he preached a sermon on "The Revivals in 
the Church", which was published in The Record 
August — December, 1884. After the reunion of the 
Old and New Schools of the Presbyterian Church, 
1870, the Presbyteries of Rockaway and Passaic 
were succeeded by the Presbytery of Morris and 
Orange, and, at the latter's request. Dr. Irving 
compiled a history of that Presbytery from July 6, 
1870, to March 1, 1875, which was published in 
pamphlet form. 



ISeb. lSu(u^ S^miti) ©reen, 23. JJB, 



The Rev. Dr. G-reen, so much esteemed by the 
people of all denominations in Morristown, has a 



310 Theologians. 

claim to honorable mention among onr authors, 
having written largely and to good purpose. 

His ''History of Morristown," a division of the 
book entitled the "History of Morris County", 
published by Munsell & Co., New York, in 1882, is 
a valuable contribution to our literature, combin- 
ing in delightful form, a large amount of informa- 
tion from many sources, which has cost the writer 
much labor. As a book of reference it is in con- 
stant demand in the "Morristown Library" now, 
and one of the books which is not allowed long to 
remain out, for that reason. This fact carries its 
own weight w^ithout further comment. 

Dr. Green succeeded the Eev. John Abbott 
French in June, 1877, to the pastorate of the First 
Presbyterian Church of Morristown, and remained 
until 1881, when he accepted the charge of the 
Lafayette St. Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, N. 
Y., and removed to that city. After his gradua- 
tion at Hamilton College, N. Y., in 1807, Dr. Green 
went abroad and was a student in the Berlin Uni- 
versity during 1869 and '70. During this period he 
gained complete command of the German language, 
which has been vastly helpful to him in his writing 
as well as, in many instances, in his pastoral work. 
He was graduated from the Auburn Theological 
Seminary in 1873. He then accepted a charge at 
Westfield, N. Y., and in 1877 came to Morristown. 
During his Morristovv^n pastorate, he began the 



Theologians. 31T 

publication of The Record, a monthly periodical 
devoted to historical matter connected with the 
First Church in particular^ but also with Morris- 
town general!}" and Morris County as well, — the 
First Church, in its history, striking its roots deep, 
and radiating in many directions. This was con- 
tinued for the years 1880 and 1881, 24 numbers. 
Eev. Wm. Durant, Dr. Green's successor in the 
■pastorate of the First Church, resumed the work 
in January 1883, and continued its publication 
until January 1886. It is an invaluable contribu- 
tion to the early history of the town and county. 

Another of Dr. Green's publications is '^Both 
Sides, or Jonathan and Absalom", published in 1888 
by the Presbyterian Board of Publication, Phila- 
delphia. This is a volume of sermons to young 
men, the aim of which can be seen from the pre- 
face which we quote entire: "It would be diffi- 
cult to find two characters better fitted than those 
of Jonathan and Absalom to give young men right 
views of life — the one, in its nobleness and beauty, 
an inspiration ; the other, in its vanity and wicked 
self-seeking, an awful warning. The two present 
both sides of the picture, and from opposite points 
of view teach the same lessons never more import- 
ant than at the present time. It has been the 
author's purpose to enforce these lessons rather 
than to write a biography. May they guide many 
a reader to the choice of the right side !" 



318 Theologians. 

In writing of the friendship of Jonathan and 
David the author says : ' ' The praises of Friendship 
have heen sung by poets of all ages, — orator's have 
made it a theme for their eloquence, — philosophers 
have written treatises upon it, — historians have 
described its all too rare manifestations. No stories 
from the far off Past are more charming than those 
which tell of Damon and Pythias, — of Orestes and 
Py lades — of Nisus and Euryalus^ — bat better and 
more inspiring than philosophic treatise or historic 
description, more beautiful even than song of poet, 
is the Friendship of which the text speaks, — the 
love of Jonatha^n for David. It is one of the world's 
ideal pictures^ all the more prized, because it is not 
only ideal but real. It was the Divine love which 
made the earthly friendship so pure and beautiful." 

For Our Chivrch at Work, a monthly periodical 
of many years' standing connected with the Lafay- 
ette Street church, of Buffalo, Dr. Green has large- 
ly written. An important pamphlet on "The Ee- 
vised New Testament " was published in 1881, by 
the Banner Printing Office, of Morristown, and, in 
addition to these, fugitive sermons, and numerous 
articles for newspapers and periodicals have passed 
from his pen to print. 

When Dr. Green left Morristown, this was the 
tribute given him at the final service in the old 
church where hundreds of people were turned away 
for want of room. These were the words of the 



Theologians. 319 

speaker on that occasion : ' ' Dr. Green came to a 
united people ; he has at all times presided over a 
united people and he leaves a united people. " 



Meb. agaUUam 29urant. 



Rev. Wm. Durant followed the Eev. Dr. Grreen 
in his ministry in the First Presbyterian Church 
in Morristown, May 11th, 1883, remaining in this 
charge until May, 1887, vt^henhe resigned, to accept 
the call of the Boundary Avenue Church, Baltimore, 
Md. He took up also, with Hon. John Whitehead 
as editor, at first, the onerous though very interest- 
ing v^ork of The Record, which labor both he and 
Eev. Dr. Green, as well as Mr. Whitehead, gave ^'as 
a free will offering to the church and the com- 
munity". 

Rev. Mr. Durant was born in Albany, N. Y., 
and prepared for college at the Albany Academy. 
He then traveled a year in Europe, studied theol- 
ogy at Princeton and was graduated from that col- 
lege in 18 72. The same year he took charge of the 
First Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee, for the 



320 Theologians. 

summer only, after which he traveled through the 
west, and was then ordained to the ministry, in 
Albany, and installed pastor of the Sixth Presbyte- 
rian Church of that city, from which, in 1883, he 
came to Morristown, as we have said. While in 
Albany he edited ^'Church Polity", a selection of 
articles contributed by the Rev. Charles Hodge, D. 
D., to the Princeton Revieto ; Scribner's Sons, pub- 
lishers. Afterwards, in Morristown, he published 
a " History of the First Presbyterian Church, Mor- 
ristown," with genealogical data for 13,000 names 
on its registers ; a part of this only has been pub- 
lished. "A Letter from One in Heaven ; An Alle- 
gory", is a booklet of singular interest as the title 
would suggest. One or two short stories of his 
have been published among numerous contributions 
to rehgious papers on subjects of ecclesiology and 
practical religion, also a score or more of sermons 
in pamphlet form. He is at present preparing, 
for publication, a "Durant Genealogy", to include 
all now in this country of the name and descent. 
This was begun in the fall of 1886. 

In the opening number of The Record for Jan- 
uary 1883, after the suspension of the publication 
for two years, we find the following paper of 
^'Congratulations" from Eev. Wm. Durant, which 
as it concerns the spirit of Morristown, we give in 
full : 



Theologians. ■ 321 

'' CONGRATULATIONS", ON THE REVIVAL 
OF ^'THE RECORD". 

The season is propitious. The Record awakes 
from a long nap — not as long as Rip Van Winkle's 
— to greet its readers with a Happy New Year. 

But where is the suggestion of those garments 
all tattered and torn ? We mistake. It is not Rip 
Van Winkle, but the Sleeping Beauty who comes 
to us, by fairy enchantment, decked in the latest 
fashion. Sleep has given her new attractions. 

Happy w^e who may receive her visits with the 
changing moons, and scan her treasures new and 
old. Her bright look shows a quick glance to catch 
flashes of present interest. And there is depth, too, 
a far offness about her glance. Its gleam of the 
present is the shimmer that lies on the surface of a 
deep well of memory. What stories she can tell us 
of the past ! Though so youthful her appearance, 
she romped with our grandmothers and made lint 
for the hospital and blankets for the camps, that 
winter Washington was here, when his bare-foot 
soldiers shivered in the snows on Mount Kemble 
or lay dying by scores in the old First Church. 
Yes, she was a girl of comely parts, albeit of temper 
to enjoy a tiff with her good mother of Hanover, 
when our city was a frontier settlement, full only 
of log cabins and primitive hardships in the strug- 
gle against wild nature. 



322 Theologians. 

For a maiden still, and one who has seen so- 
many summers, marvelous is her cheery, youthful 
look. Ponce de Leon made the mistake of his life 
when he sought his enchanted fountain in Florida 
instead of where Morristown was to be. It is not 
on the Green, for the aqueduct folks now hold the 
title. 

From lips still ruddy with youth, is it not deli- 
cious to hear the gossip of olden time ! And our 
maiden knows it all, for she was present at aU the 
baptisms, danced at all the weddings, thrilled with 
heavenly joy when our ancestors confessed the Son 
of Man before the high pulpit, and stood with tears 
in her eyes when one after another they were laid 
in the graves behind. Their names are still on her 
tongue's end, and it is with loving recollection that 
she tells of the long lists like the one she brings 
this month. 

But her gossip is not all of names. What she 
will tell of events and progress, of the unwritten 
history that has given character to families, to 
State or Nation, there is no need of predicting, we 
have only to welcome her at our fireside and listen 
while she speaks. 



Theologians. 323 

iSeb. J. mflacitausijtan, 23. IB. 



Dr. Macnaughtan, present pastor of the First 
Presbyterian Church and successor of Eev. Wm. 
Durant, a profound scholar and thinker and most 
interesting writer, has not entered largely into the 
world of letters as an author or a publisher of his 
writings. Some papers of his, and some articles 
have, however, been published from time to time 
and a sermon now and then, notably, within tv/o 
years, one on ^'Eevision : Its Spirit and Aims", and 
the Centennial Sermon that was delivered on Sun- 
day, October 11th, 1891, on the memorable occasion 
of the Centennial of the erection of the present 
First Church building. This sermon was published 
in the Banner, of Morristown, and is to appear 
again, with all the interesting addresses and sketch- 
es, given on that day and on the following days of 
the celebration, — in the book which Mr. Whitehead 
is preparing on ' ' The History of the First Presby- 
terian Church". 

Dr. Macnaughtan's pastorate will always be as- 
sociated with this time of historic retrospection 
and also with the passing away of the old building 
and the introduction of the new. Of this old build- 
ing, endeared to many of Morristown's people, this 



324 Theologians. 

book will probably be the last to make mention 
while it stands. An old-time resident touchingly 
says of the coming event : ' ' There have been great 
changes within my remembrance (in Morristown). 
I was born in 1813 and have always lived w^here I 
do now. My memory goes back to the time when 
there were only two churches in the town ; the 
First Presbyterian and the Baptist. The latter is 
now being removed for other purposes, and our old 
church, that has stood through its 100 years, will 
soon be removed, to make place for a new one. I 
was in hopes it would remain during my days, but 
the younger generation wants something new, 
more in the present style." 

FEOM THE '-CENTENNIAL SEEMON." 

Ask now of the days that are past. 

— Deuteronomy ^ : 32. 

One hundred years ago on the 20th of last Sep- 
tember (1891), a very stirring and animated scene 
could have been witnessed on this spot where we 
are so quietly assembled this morning for our Sab- 
bath worship. On the morning of that day, some 
200 men were assembled here, with the implements 
of their calling, and the task of erecting this now 
venerable structure was begun. Tlie willing hands 
of trained mechanics and others, under the direc- 
tion of Major Joseph Lindsley and Gilbert Allen, 
both elders of the church, lifted aloft these timbers, 



Theologians. 325 

and the work of creating this sanctuary was begun. 
When one inspects the timbers forming the frame 
of this structure, great masses of hewn oak, and 
enough of it to build two structures of the size of 
this edifice, as such buildings are now erected, one 
sees how necessary it was that so great a force of 
men should be on hand. One can well believe that 
the animation of the scene was only equalled by 
the excited emotions of the people, in whose behalf 
the building was being erected. The task begun 
was a gigantic one for that time. The plans con- 
templated the erection of a structure which, "for 
strength, solidity and symmetry of proportion," 
should "not be excelled by any wooden building of 
that day in New Jersey. " But it was not alone 
the generosity of the plan of the structure that 
made it a gigantic enterprise, but the material cir- 
cumstances of the people who had undertaken the 
work. The men of a hundred years ago were rich 
for the most part only in faith and self-sacrifice. 
But looking at this house as it stands to-day, and 
remembering the generations who under this roof 
have been reproved, guided, comforted, and point- 
ed to the supreme ends of being, who shall say that 
they who are rich only in faith and self-sacrifice 
are poor? Out of their material poverty our 
fathers builded this house through which for a cen- 
tury Grod has been sending to our homes and into 
our lives the rich messages of his grace and salva- 



326 Theologians. 

tion — where from week to week our souls have 
been fronted with the invisible and eternal, and 
where by psalm and hymn, and the solemn words 
of God's grand Book, and the faithful preaching of 
a long line of devoted and consecrated men, we 
have been reminded of the seriousness and awful- 
ness of life, of the sublime meanings of existence, 
and the grand ends which it is capable of conserv- 
ing ; where multitudes have confessed a Saviour 
found, and have consecrated their souls to their 
new found Lord ; where doubts have been dis- 
pelled, where sorrow has been assuaged, where 
grief has found its antidote and the burdened heart 
has found relief ; where thought has been lifted to 
new heights of outlook, and the heart has been en- 
riched with conceptions of God and duty that have 
given a new grandeur to existence, where the low 
horizons of time have been lifted and pushed out- 
ward, till the soul has felt the thrill of a present 
eternity. Our heritage has indeed been great in 
the possession of this old white Meeting -House. 

(Several points Dr. Macnaughtan makes as 
follows) : 

In scanning the life that has been lived here 
during the last hundred years, I find it, first of all, 
to have been a consistent life. It is a life that has 
been true to the great principles of religious truth 
for which the name of Presbyterian stands. '^" * 
I find, in the second place, that the life that has 



Theologians. 32T 

l)een lived here has been an evangelistic life. ^ * 
In the third place, it has been an expansive life. ^ 

■^ ^ * Here has been nourished the mother 
hive from which has gone forth, to the several 
•churches in the neighborhood, the men and women 
who have made these churches what they are to- 
day. ^ '"" ^^ In the fourth place, it has been 
a beneficent life. The voices that have rung out 
from this place have but one accent — Kighteous- 
ness. 



Keb. or. HBe mUtt HJtitiBmait 



The Baptist Church is the second of our Morris- 
town churches in point of age. It was formed Au- 
gust 11, 1752. It was the Rev. Eeune Eunyon who 
was its pastor during those terrible days of the Eev- 
olution, when the scourge of small-pox prevailed. 
All honor to him for a "brave man and true", as 
says our historian, ' ' loyal to his country as well as 
faithful to his God." He, with good Parson Johnes, 
upheld the arm of Washington.and both offered, for 
their congregations, their church buildings, to shel- 



328 Theologians. 

ter the poor, suffering soldiers, in their conflict with 
the dread disease. This constancy is all the more 
creditable when we consider that two of his imme- 
diate predecessors had already fallen victims to the 
disease, each, after a very short pastorate. 

Eev. C. DeWitt Bridgman claims our attention 
as a writer. A friend writing of the Rev. Mr. 
Bridgman, at the present time, says : '' The Bap- 
tist Church at Morristown was the first pastorate of 
the Eev. C. DeWitt Bridgman and I think was fill- 
ed 10 the entire satisfaction of his friends and admi- 
rers who were and are many. His brilliant oratory 
and rare gifts as an eloquent, scholarly and polished 
speaker are well-known. A life-long friend of my 
family, I dwell on the lovable and loyal characteris- 
tics which have made him dear to us." 

In a letter received by the author of this book, 
Dec. 2, 1892, from the Rev. Mr. Bridgman, we find 
a little retrospect which is interesting. "I went 
to Morristown," he says, " immediately after grad- 
uating from the Baptist Theological Seminary, in 
Rochester, in 1857. The Baptist Church had a 
membership of about 130, all but five or six of 
them living outside the village. The House of 
Worship was small and uncomfortable, but at once 
was modernized and enlarged, and the congrega- 
tion soon after grew to the measure of its capacity. 
As I was then but 22 years old, the success was in 
some measure due, I must believe, to the sympathy 



Theologians. 329 

which the young men of the village had for one 
with their ardor. However that may be, the 
church, for the first time, seemed to be recognized 
as in touch with the life of the village, and it was 
the opening of a new chapter in the history of the 
church." 

Eev. Mr. Bridgman made the oration at the 
Fourth of July county celebration, an important 
occasion, soon after his arrival, in the First Presby- 
terian church. For two and a half years, he re- 
mained in this charge, when he removed to Jamai- 
ca Plain, Mass. Subsequently he was pastor for 
fifteen years, of Emmanuel Baptist church, Alba- 
ny, then for thirteen years of the Madison Avenue 
church in New York, when he entered the Episco- 
pal church and became rector of ''Holy Trinity," 
on Lenox Avenue and 122nd St., New York, a po- 
sition which he still occupies. Articles from this 
writer's pen have appeared from time to time dur- 
ing this long career, in the religious press, besides 
occasional sermons of power and impressiveness. 

In the letter above referred to, Mr. Bridgman 
says he remembers very pleasantly many acquain- 
tances among those not connected with his church 
as well as those in its membership and "it will be 
a great pleasure," he adds, "to recall the old faces 
and the old days, over the pages of your book, 
when it shall have been issued." 

Bev. G. D. Brewerton, who is already among 



330 Theologians. 

our Poets, followed the Eev. Mr. Bridgman, in 
1861, for a short pastorate. 



ISeb. iEUtoooir 3^. Stofeejs, 30. IB. 



The Methodist Episcopal church was the third 
ill order among our local churches, and was organi- 
zed in 1820. The Eev. Dr. Stokes was its pastor 
from 1853 to 1855. He has written and published 
largely and has done a noble work in many direc- 
tions, as is evidenced by his last publication, ' ' The 
Story of Fifty Years", a story of his life. This 
story was given in response to a request from the 
Quarterly Conference of St. Paul's M. E. Church, 
of Ocean Grove, N. J., in April, 1893, and, by re- 
quest of the same body, was published. It is a 
most suggestive, inspiring and uplifting narrative. 
The author has generously devoted the profits of 
the sale to the construction of a new Auditorium 
at Ocean Grove, which is to accommodate ten 
thousand people. Since 1875, Dr. Stokes has been 
in charge of the Ocean Grove Camp-meeting, and 
the president of the Association of that name. His 



Theologians. 331 

l)irthplace was in New Jersey, eighteen miles east 
of Philadelphia, and his parents were members of 
the Society of Friends. This fact gave him a birth- 
right membership — as he tells us in " The Story of 
Fifty Years" — with "that excellent people", to 
whom he pays a beautiful tribute, in his own ear]y 
experiences. "Sunday Schools", he says, "were 
unknown, and our household book was the Bible — 
the only book my mother read. From it she taught 
her children. She told us things we ought to do, 
and the things we ought not to do, so that I do not 
remember ever to have uttered a profane oath, and, 
although of a quick and high temper, was kept 
from this and most of the other out-breaking sins. 
In my childhood and youth I was a pretty good 
whistler but mother would say to me, ' Thee should 
not whistle on First day', and I obeyed. That 
teaching has so held to me until this day, that if I 
hear a person whistle on the Sabbath, here or any- 
where, I think of my mother." The boy was 
named for the old Quaker Preacher, Thomas Ell- 
wood. 

While Dr. Stokes was in Morristown, he wrote 
a book of 200 pages, entitled "A Pilgrim's Foot- 
prints ; or Passages in the Life of the Rev. John 
Hancock, a Local Minister of Madison, N. J." He 
has been a constant writer for publication in news- 
papers, magazines and books for the last fifty years, 
and of numerous published sermons on various sub- 



332 Theologians. 

jects. He has written a book of travels, ''What I 
saw in Europe", 216 pages ; a memorial volume,. 
^'Darling Minnie"; fifty or more Ministerial Biog- 
raphies of from tt to 30 pages each, and many hun- 
dreds of poems, some of which are collected in two 
volumes, "Songs by the Sea", and ''Blossoms", the 
latter a book of 361 pages, finely illustrated. - The 
Degree of D. D. w^as conferred upon Dr. Stokes by 
Dickinson College in IS 73. 



laeb. :?). S. Olcane, JB. 



Among the many distinguished pastors of the 
Methodist Episcopal church in Morristown, the 
Eev. Dr. Crane demands our notice as an author. 
It was he wiio laid the corner-stone, while pastor 
in 1866, of the third church building, a superb 
structure, which is mostly the generous gift of the 
Hon. George T. Cobb, who gave to it $100,000. 

We find in our Morristown library, an interest- 
ing and valuable volume entitled " Arts of Intoxi- 

*lt is to be regretted that Dr. Stokes, as a poet and wiiter of travels, 
was not known to the author in the early part of this edition, that he 
might appear in those classifications. 



Theologians. 333 

cation; the Aim and the Results." By Rev. J. T. 
Crane, D. D., author of "Popular Amusements", 
''The Right Way", &c. This author was a volu- 
minous writer, and recognized as one of the ablest 
in the Conference. This book was published in 
1870, is one of the very best works on the subject, 
and in it the author says : 

"The great problem of the times is, 'What 
shall be done to stay the ravages of intoxication V 
The evil pervades every grade of civilization as w^ell 
as all depths of barbarism, the degree of its preva- 
lence in any locality being determined apparently 
more by the facilities for indulgence than by cli- 
mate, race or religion. 

" In heathen China the opium vice is working 
death. On the eastern slopes of the Andes, the 
poor remnants of once powerful nations are en- 
slaved by the coca-leaf, and the thorn apple, and 
thus are fixed in their fallen estate. In Europe 
and America the nations who claim to be the lead- 
ers of human progress are fearfully addicted to nar- 
cotic indulgences which not only impose crushing 
burdens upon them, wasting the products of their 
industry and iu creasing every element of evil among 
thenij but render even their friendship dangerous 
to the savage tribes among wdiom their commerce 
reaches. Italy, France, Germany, England and 
the United States are laboring beneath a mountain 
weight of crime, poverty, suffering and wrong of 



334 Theologians. 

every description^ and no nation on either continent 
is fully awake to the peril of the hour. Questions 
of infinitely less moment create political crises, 
make wars, and overthrow dynasties. " Then, Dr. 
Crane proceeds to show that the ^' Art of Intoxica- 
tion" is not a device of modern times, and quotes- 
from the Odyssey, in illustration ; he discusses the 
mystery of it and notices the mutual dependence of 
the body and spirit upon one another. He tells the 
story of the coca-leaf, thorn-apple and the betel- 
nut, also of tobacco and treats of the tobacco habit 
and the question generally ; of the hemp intoxicant 
and the opium habit and, finally, of alcohol,— its 
production, its delusions, its real effect, the heredi- 
tary effect, the wrong of indulgence, the folly of be- 
ginning, the strength of the enemy, the damage done 
and remedial measures. It is the most picturesque 
and attractive little book on the subject that we 
have seen. " 



^eb. ?i)eurj) gln^on Uutt{, 30. JU., ?HL. 20, 



Eev. Dr. Buttz, President of Drew Theological 
Seminary, ministered in the Methodist Episcopal 



Theologians. 335 

Church in Morristown from 1868 to 1870. While 
preaching in Morristown he was elected Adjunct 
Professor of Grreek in Drew Theological Seminary, 
filling the George T. Cobb professorship. This chair 
he occupied until December 7, 1880, when he was 
unanimously elected to succeed Bishop Hurst. He 
received the degree of A. M. in 1861 from Princeton 
College and in 1864 from Wesleyan University, and 
that of D. D. from Princeton in 1875. 

Dr. Buttz is without doubt one of the most dis- 
tinguished men of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
His preaching, always without notes, is impressive 
and of the style usually designated as expository. 
His contributions to English literature have been to 
a large extent, fugitive articles on many subjects in 
various church periodicals, but probably his greatest 
published work is a G-reek text book, "The Epistle to 
the Romans", which is regarded by scholars as one 
of the most accurate and critical guides to the study 
of that letter of St. Paul. It is announced by him 
that all the New Testament Epistles are to be pub- 
lished on the same plan. "The entire work, when 
completed," says a writer in the Mt. Tabor Record, 
" will be a valuable contribution to Biblical litera- 
ture, and an enduring monument to the genius and 
research of the author. " 



336 Theologians. 

5Seb. Jonatljan H. ISurr, 29. IB 



Rev. Dr. Burr, also a distinguished divine of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, was stationed at 
Morristown, in 1870-2. He v^as born in Middle- 
town, Conn., on Sept. 21st, 1825 ; was gradu- 
ated at Wesley an University in 1845 ; studied in 
Union Theological Seminary in New York city in 
181:6 ; in 181:7 he entered the ministry, occupy- 
ing some of the most important pulpits within the 
Newark Conference of the M. E. Church. He was 
professor of Hebrew and Exegetical Theology in 
Drew Theological Seminary, while pastor of Central 
church, Newark, N. J. He w^as author of the 
Commentary on the Book of Job, in the Whedon 
series, a work which ranks among the first and best 
on this surbject. He was also a member of the 
Committee of Revision of the New Testament. He 
received the degree of D. D. from Wesleyan in 1872, 
and, in that year, he was delegate to the General 
Conference of the M. E. church. For many years 
he was a trustee of the Wesleyan University and 
of Hackettstown Seminary. He wrote the articles 
upon Incarnation and Krishna in McClintock and 
Strong's Biblical Cyclopaedia and made occasional 
contributions to the religious journals. In 1879 



Theologians. 337 

his health failed and he was obliged to retire from 
the ministry. His death followed on April 2ttth, 

1882. 



l^Fb. James IH, Sltiamsi. 



Rev. Mr. Adams, the present pastor of the Mor- 
ristown Methodist Episcopal Church, entered upon 
this charge in May, 1889, succeeding the Rev. Oli- 
ver A. Brown, D. D. He was transferred, by Bishop 
Merrill, from the Genesee Conference to the 
Newark Conference for that purpose, the church 
having invited him and he having accepted a few 
months previously. He came directly from the 
First Methodist church of Rochester, N. Y., to Mor- 
ristown. Mr. Adams is a clever and thoughtful 
writer. He says himself : "I have done nothing 
in authorship that is worthy of record. I have on- 
ly written newspaper and magazine articles occa- 
sionally and published a few special sermons. I am 
fond of writing and have planned quite largely for 
literary work, including several books, but very ex- 
acting parish work has thus far delayed execution." 



338 Theologians. 

Some of his sermons published are as follows : 

*^St. Paul's Veracity in Christian Profession 
Sustained by an Infallible Test. Text : Eomans 1, 
16. Published in New Brunswick, N. J., 1877." 

" The Final Verdict in a Famous Case. A Bi- 
ble Sermon Preached Before the Monmouth Coun- 
ty Bible Society, and published by that Society in 
1883." 

'^The Golden Eule. A Discussion of Christ's 
Words in Matthew 7, 12, in the First Methodist 
Episcopal Church, Eochester, N. Y. Published in 
Eochester, 1886." 

^' Human Progress as a Ground of Thanksgiv- 
ing. A Thanksgiving Sermon, Preached in Morris- 
town, N. J., 1880, and published by request." 



Hell, Jameg ittuntoe Uucklej), B. B., HE, 23, 



At this pomt, three theologians and editors 
present themselves, not occupying definite pulpits, 
but often taking a place in one or another, as op- 
portunity for usefulness occurs. These are the 
Eev. James M. Buckley, D. D. and the Eev. James 



Theologians. 339 

M. Freeman, D. D., of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and the Eev. Kinsley Twining, D. D., of 
the Congregational. 

Of the genius of Dr. Buckley, it may be said, 
it is so all embracing that it would be dififtcult to 
tell what he is not, in distinctive literary capacity. 
First of all, certainly, he is a theologian, then editor, 
orator, scientist, traveler and so on among our 
classifications. One is led to apply to him the 
familiar saying that " he who does one thing well, 
can do all things well." 

It is pleasant to note that a man of such keen 
observation and well balanced judgment as Dr. 
Buckley, after extensive travel in our own country 
and abroad, can state, as many of us have heard 
him, that, of all the beautiful spots he has seen in 
one country and another, none is so beautiful, so 
attractive and so desirable, in every respect, as 
Morristown. 

Dr. Buckley is a true Jerseyman, for he was 
born in Eah way, N. J., and educated at Penning- 
ton, N. J., Seminary. He studied theology, after 
one year at Wesleyan University, at Exeter, N. H., 
and joined the New Hampshire Methodist Episco- 
pal Conference on trial, being stationed at Dover 
in that state. In 186 i he went to Detroit and in 
1866 to Brooklyn, N. Y. In 1881, he was elected to 
the Methodist Ecumenical Conference in London 
and also in that year was elected editor of the New 



340 Theologians. 

York Christian Advocate, which position he has 
held to the present time. The degree of D. D. was 
conferred upon him by Wesleyan University in 
1872 and LL. D. by Emory and Henry College, 
Virginia. His uncle, Rev. James Buckley, was 
pastor of the Morristown M. E. Church, in 1S3T. 

As a traveler, Dr. Buckley is represented by 
his work on '' The Midnight Sun and the Tsar and 
the Nihilist'' being a book of "Adventures and Ob- 
servations in Norway, Sweden and Russia". This 
book is full, as we might expect, of information 
communicated in the most entertaining maimer, 
full of very graphic descriptions, original com- 
ments, spices of humor, with a clever analysis of 
the people and conditions of life around the author 
— all of which characteristics give us a feeling that, 
we are making with him this tour of observation. 
In the chapters on "St. Petersburg" and " Ploly 
Moscow", we see these qualities especially evi- 
denced. Here is a short paragraph quite represen- 
tative of the author, who is writing of the Cathe- 
dral of the Assumption, Moscow, an immense bnild- 
ing in the Byzantine style of architecture, in whicli 
a service of the Greek church is going on : " The 
monks sang magnificently, but there was not a 
face among them that exhibited anything but the 
most profound indifference. Some of the young 
monks fixed their eyes upon the ladies who accom- 
panied me from the hotel, and kept them there 



Theologians. 341 

even while they were singing the prayers, which 
they appeared to repeat hke parrots, without any 
internal consciousness or recognition of the mean- 
ing of the words, but in most melodious tones. '^ 
Again, the author visits a Tartar Mosque where he 
and his party are told ' " with oriental courtesy, 
that they may be permitted to remain outside the 
door, looking in, while the service progresses :" 
''Here," he says, "I was brought for the first time 
in direct contact with that extraordinary s^^stem 
of religion which, without an idol, an image, or a 
picture, holds one hundred and seventy million of 
the human race in absolute subjection, and whose 
power, after the lapse of twelve hundred years, is 
as great as at the beginning." 

Of the summoning of the people to prayers 
from the minaret, he writes : 

""Dr. J. H. Vincent for many years employed 
at Chautauqua the late A. O.Van Lennep, who v/ent 
upon the summit of a house at evening time, dress- 
ed in the Turkish costume, and called the people to 
prayer. 

" I supposed when I heard him that he was over- 
doing the matter as respects the excruciating tones 
and variations of voice which he employed, or else 
he had an extraordinary qualification for making 
hideous sounds, whereby he out-Turked the Turks, 
and sometimes considered whether Dr. Vincent did 
not deserve to be expostulated with for allowing 



342 Theologians. 

such frightful noises to clash with the ordinary 
sweet accords of Chautauqua. Worthy Mr. Van 
Lennep will never appear there again, but I am 
able to vindicate him from such unworthy suspicion 
as I cherished. He did his best to produce the 
worst sounds he could, but his worst was not bad 
enough to equal the reality. With his hands on his 
ears, the Mohammedan priest of the great mosque 
of Moscow emitted, for the space of seven minutes 
or thereabouts, a series of tones for which I could 
find no analogy in anything I had ever heard of the 
human voice. There seemed occasionally a resem- 
blance to the smothered cries of a cat in an ash- 
hole ; again to the mournful w^ail of a hound tied 
behind a barn ; and again to the distant echo of a 
tin horn on a canal-boat in a section where the ca- 
nal cuts between the mountains. The reader may 
think this extravagant, but it is not, and he will 
ascertain if ever he hears the like." 

Dr. Buckley's published writings are, besides 
his great work as editor of The Christian Advocate, 
in editorials and in many directions, — and besides 
the book we have already mentioned, ''The Mid- 
night Sun, the Tsar and the Nihihst"; " Oats ver- 
sus Wild Oats"; "Christians and the Tbeatre"; 
"Biii)])0sed Miracles", and "Faith Heahng, Chris- 
tian Science, and Kindred Phenomena", i)ublished 
quite recently ^in October, 181)2). Among maga- 
zine articles, may be especially mentioned "Two 



Theologians. 343 

Weeks in the Yosemite", and in pamphlet form 
have appeared some letters worthy of mention, 
about ^'A Hereditary Consumptive's Successful 
Battle for Life". 

As a philanthropist, Dr. Buckley is widely inter- 
ested in all questions concerning humanity, and he 
responds continually with his time and thought to 
the appeals made to him from one direction and 
another. The State Charities Aid Association of 
New Jersey owes much to Dr. Buckley for his 
warm and earnest co-operation in its early struggles 
in Morristown for existence, and in its work, since 
then. 

As an orator, all who have heard Dr. Buckley 
feel that he has what is called the magnetic power 
of controlling and carrying with him his audience, 
and a remarkable capacity for mastering widely 
different subjects. The beautiful spring day (April 
27, 1888), will long be remembered, when the peo- 
ple of Morristown had the opportunity of hearing 
his eloquent address at the unveiling of the Soldiers' 
Monument on Fort Nonsense. The plan of the 
Fort, drawn by Major J. P. Farley, U. S. A., the 
original of which is at the Washington Headquar- 
ters, is given here, from an engraving of the 
Messrs. Vogt, by their kind permission. On Feb- 
ruary 22nd, 1893, Dr. Buckley read, by request, be- 
fore the Washington Association of New Jersey, at 



344 Theologians. 

the Headquarters, a paper of great eloquence and 
interest on " Aaron Burr". 

In Dr. Buckley's last book on '' Faith Healing ; 
Christian Science and Kindred Phenomena", pub- 
lished by the Century Company, October 1892, the 
subjects of Astrology, Coincidences, Divinations, 
Dreams, Nightmares and Somnambulisui, Presenti- 
ments, Visions, Apparitions and Witchcraft are 
treated. Papers have been contributed by him on 
these subjects at intervals for six years with refe- 
rence to this book, but the contents of the latter 
are not identical, i. e. they have been improved 
and added to. From this we give the following 
extract : 

EXTKACT FEOM ''FAITH HEALINC, CHRIS- 
TIAN SCIENCE AND KINDRED 
PHENOMENA." 

The relation of the Mind Cure movement to or- 
dinary medical practice is important. It emphasi- 
zes what the most philosophical physicians of all 
schools have always deemed of the first import- 
ance, though many have neglected it. It teaches 
that medicine is but occasionally necessary. It has- 
tens the time when patients of discrimination will 
rather pay more for advice how to live and for 
frank declarations that they do not need medicine, 
than for drugs. It promotes general reliance upon 



Theologians. 347 

those processes which go on equally in health and 
disease. 

But these ethereal practitioners have no new 
force to offer ; there is no causal connection be- 
tween their cures and their theories. 

What they believe has practically nothing to do 
with their success. If anew school were to arise 
claiming to heal diseases without drugs or hygiene 
or prayer, by the hypothetical odylic force invented 
by Baron Eeichenbach, the effect would be the 
same, if the practice were the same. 

Recoveries as remarkable have been occurring 
through all the ages, as the results of mental states 
and nature's own powers. 

The verdict of mankind excepting minds prone 
to vagaries on the border-land of insanity, will be 
that pronounced by Ecclesiasticus more that two 
thousand years ago : 

"The Lord hath created medicines out of 
the earth ; and he that is wise will not abhor 

THEM. My son, in thy sickness BE NOT NEGLIGENT ; 
BUT PRAY UNTO THE LORD AND He WILL MAKE THEE 

WHOLE. Leave off from sin and order thy hands 

ARIGHT, AND CLEANSE THY BREAST FROM ALL WICK- 
EDNESS. Then give place to the physician, for 
THE Lord hath created him ; let him not go from 
thee, for thou hast need of him. There is a 

TIME when in their HANDS THERE IS GOOD SUC- 



3-^:8 Theologians. 

CESS. For they also shall pray unto the Lord, 
THAT He would prosper that which they give 

FOR EASE AND TO PROLONG LIFE.'' 



Meli. James M. #reeman, H. 13. 



Dr. Freeman is the second of the trio of theolo- 
gians and editors, whose homes are in Morristown. 
For the last twenty years, he has heen associate 
editor of "Snnday School Books and Periodicals and 
of Tracts" of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His 
Biblical studies are w^ell know^n. His ''Hand-Book 
of Bible Manners and Customs" was compiled with 
great care after years of research and published in 
1877. This " Hand-Book " has been invaluable to 
Bible students and in it a large amount of informa- 
tion is given in small space, and in an interesting 
and entertaining manner. Another important vol- 
ume is "A Short History of the English Bible ". 
Both these works are in the Morristown Library, 
presented by the author. 

Many years ago, Dr. Freeman published, under 
the name of Robin Ranger, some charming story- 



Theologians. 349 

books ^'for the little ones", in sets of ten tiny vol- 
Times. This work has placed him already in our 
gvovi]') oi Story-Writers. Besides these, there are 
two Chautauqua Text-books, viz., "The Book of 
Books" and "Manners and Customs of Bible 
Times", also "The Use of Illustration in Sunday 
School Teaching". The "Hand-Book of Bible Man- 
ners and Customs", in particular, and the "Short 
History of the English Bible" are books which one 
can not look into without desiring to own. In the 
former, the author says in his short but admirable 
preface : 

" Though the Bible is adapted to all nations, it 
is in many respects an Oriental book. It represents 
the modes of thought and the peculiar customs of 
a people who, in their habits, widely differ from us. 
One w^ho lived among them for many years has 
graphically said : ' Modes, customs, usages, all 
that you can set down to the score of the national, 
the social, or the conventional, are precisely as dif- 
ferent from yours as the east is different from the 
west. They sit when you stand ; they lie when 
you sit ; they do to the head what you do to the 
feet ; they use fire when 3^ou use water ; you shave 
the beard, they shave the head ; you move the hat, 
they touch the breast ; you use the lips in saluta- 
tion, they touch the forehead and the cheek ; your 
house looks outwards, their house looks inwards ; 
you go Old to take a walk, they go up to enjoy the 



350 Theologians. 

fresh air ; you drain your land, they sigh for water ; 
you bring your daughters out, they keep their 
wives and daughters in ; your ladies go barefaced 
through the streets, their ladies are always cov- 
ered'. 

'^The Oriental customs of to-day are, mainly, 
the same as those of ancient times. It is said by a 
recent writer that ^ the Classical world has passed 
away. We must reproduce it if we wish to see it 
as it w^as. ' While this fact must be remembered in 
the interpretation of some New Testament pas- 
sages, it is nevertheless true that many ancient cus- 
toms still exist in their primitive integrity. If a 
knowledge of Oriental customs is essential to a 
right understanding of numerous Scripture pas- 
sages, it is a cause of rejoicing that these customs 
are so stereotyped in their character that we have 
but to visit the Bible lands of the present day to 
see the modes of life of patriarchal times." 

Therefore, the author undertakes and under- 
takes with remarkable success, to illustrate the 
Bible by an explanation of the Oriental customs to 
which it refers. 



Theologians. 351 

i^eb. Hinisle]) JCtoining, 31. 29., iLE. 23. 



Eev. Dr. Twining, up to 1879, devoted his time 
and attention entirely to the ministry and charge 
of two large city Congregational churches, one in 
Providence, E. I. While in the latter city, he pub- 
lished abook of '' Hymns and Tunes", for his church 
there, w^hich was acceptable and popular among 
the people, and contributed largely to develop the 
hearty congregational singing for which end it was 
compiled. While in this charge, he was for some 
time abroad, and mingled considerably in the lite- 
rary life of Germany, and also in the musical life of 
that country. Hence, he is a fine theorist in music. 

Since 1879 he has been literary editor of The 
Independent, and during these years he has written 
enough valuable editorials and review^s to fill many 
books. Many of his lectures, addresses, essays and 
other writings have appealed in magazines and 
other publications, notably a charming description 
of an " Ascent of Monte Eosa " iu the American 
Journal of Science and Arts, of May, 1862. We find 
in a book entitled "Boston Lectures, 1872 ", a chap- 
ter given to one on ' ' The Evidence of the Eesurrec- 
tion of Jesus Christ, by Eev. Kinsley Twining, 
Cambridge, Mass. ", in which the argument is, as 



352 Theologians. 

might be expected, keen and clear. One of his 
more recent pubhshed papers was read by him at 
one of the Literary Eeunions at Mr. Bowen's in 
Brooklyn, N. Y., and attracted much attention. It 
has since been given in Morristown .- subject, ^' The 
Wends, or a Queer People Surviving in Prussia". 

Dr. Twining has made a special study of 
Shakespeare and holds a high rank as a Shakes- 
perian critic and scholar. 

With regard to editorial work, it may be said 
an editor has a maximum of influence, the mini- 
mum of recognition, — for nobody knows who does 
it. It is certain that powerful editorials sometimes 
turn the tide of public opinion or actually establish 
certain i-esults which affect the progress of the 
world, and at least make a mark in the world's ad- 
vance. Who, indeed, can compute or measure the 
power of the press at the present day ? 

We choose for Dr. Twining, some paragraphs 
from his editorial which has already acquired some 
celebrity in The Independent of Sept. 15, 1892, on 
John Greenleaf Whittier. The death of the poet 
occurred on the Tth of the same September and he 
had been one of the earliest and most regular con- 
tributors to that paper since 1851. 

FROM EDITORIAL ON JOHN GREENLEAF 
WHITTIER. 

It has been said that every man of genius makes 



TJieologians. 353 

a class distinct by himself, out of relation and out 
of comparison with everybody else. At all events 
poets do, the first born in the progeny of genius ; 
and of none of them is this truer than of the four 
great American poets, Bryant, Longfellow, Lowell 
and Whittier. In what order of merit they stand 
in their great poetic square, the distinct individual- 
ity of genius bestowed on each makes it needless to 
inquire. They have been our lights for half a cen- 
tury, and now that they have taken their perma- 
nent place in the galaxy of song, will continue to 
shine there, to use the phrase which Whittier him- 
self invented for Dr. Bowditch's sun-dial, as long as 
there is need of their "light above" in our "shade 
below". 

•^ -H- * 4f 4f 

Whittier is the ballad- master and legend singer 
of the American people. Had he known the South 
and the West as he knew New England, he would 
have sung their legends as he has sung those of 
New England. The meaning of all this is that he 
is the minstrel of our people. This he has been, and 
this he will remain. Whether it is in the solemn 
wrath of the great ballad, " Skipper Ireson's Eide," 
one of the greatest in modern literature, in the high 
patriotic straiu of "Barbara Frietchie," in the pa- 
thos of "The Swan Song," of "Father Avery," 
" The Witch's Daughter," or in the grim humor of 
"The Double-Headed Snake of Newberry," 



35ti: Theologians. 

^'One in body and two in will," 
it matters little what the subject is, or from whence 
it comes, the poem has in it some reflection of the 
common humanity, and as such speaks and will 
speak to the hearts of men. 

It has been the fashion to write of Victor Hugo 
as the poet of democratic humanity. We shall not 
dispute his claim. There is a certain epic grandeur 
in his work which entitles him to a seat alone. But 
to those who believe the world is moving toward a 
democracy whose ideals are the realization of the 
Sermon on the Mount, whose essence is ethical, and 
whose laws are gentleness, usefulness and love, 
Greenleaf Whittierwill be the true democratic poet 
whose heart beats most nearly with the pulses of 
the democratic age, and who best represents the 
principles which are to give it permanence. , 



iSeb. ffl:i)eot)ore ILetrpartr fflmjlet, 2i. 13 



The Rev. Dr. Cuyler should immediately follow 
the group of editors and theologians, as he has been 
a regular writer for the religious press, as well as 



Theologians. 355 

for the secular, for many years. To the former he 
has contributed more than 3,000 articles, many of 
which have been republished and translated into 
foreign languages. 

In reply to a request for certain information, 
Dr. Cuyler, in a letter dated from Brooklyn, Janu- 
ary 13, 1890, and written "in a sick room, where he 
was laid up with the ' Grip' ", a disease of the pres- 
ent day which we hope may become historic, — re- 
plies to the author of this book as follows : 

"Probably no American author has a longer 
association with Morristown than I have ; for my 
ancestors have laid in its church-yards for more 
than a century. 

"My great-great-grandfather, Eev. Dr. Timo- 
thy Johnes, preached in the 1st Presbyterian Church 
for 50 years and administered the Communion to 
General Washington. 

"My great-grandfather, Mr. Joseph Lewis, was 
a prominent citizen of Morristown and an active 
friend and counsellor of Washington. 

"My grandmother, Anna B. Lewis, was born 
in Morristown. 

"My mother, Louisa F. Morrell, was also born 
in Morristown (in 1802) in the old family "Lewis 
Mansion" in which Mr. William L. King now lives. 

" I was at school in Morristown in 1835 and it 
was my favorite place for visits for many, many 
years. I have often preached or spoken there. 



366 Theologians. 

"The man most familiar with my hterary work 
is Dr. J. M. Buckley, the editor of The Christian 
Advocate — who now resides in Morristown/' 

This letter was signed with his name, as "Pas- 
tor of Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church." 
Less than a month later he announced to his aston- 
ished congregation, his intention of resigning his 
charge among them on the first Sabbath of the fol- 
lowing April, when it would be exactly thirty years 
since he came to a small band of 140 members, 
which then composed his flock. At the close of his 
remarks on that occasion he said : "It only re- 
mains for me to say that after forty-four years of 
uninterrupted ministerial labors it is but reasonable 
to ask for some relief from a strain that may soon 
become too heavy for me to bear." 

During the celebration of the twenty-fifth an- 
niversary of his pastorate, in 1885, he told his con- 
gregation that during that time he had preached 
over 2,300 discourses, had made over 1,000 address- 
es, officiated at about 600 marriages, baptized 800 
children, received into the church 3,700 members, 
of whom about I,()(io were converts, and had lost 
but one Sunday for sickness. Probably few men 
are more widely known for their literary and ora- 
torical powers and extended usefulness both in the 
pulpit and out of it. Few, if any, have accomplish- 
ed more in the same number of years or made a wi- 
der circle of warm and earnest friends both at home 



Tlieologians. 35T 

and abroad. Among the laxter is the Hon. Wm. E. 
Gladstone, and was, the late John Bright. In his 
sermons and addresses, the personality of Dr. Cuy- 
ler is so marked that to hear him once is to remem- 
ber him always. In England he has been especial- 
ly popular as a preacher and temperance advocate. 
The latter cause he has espoused most warmly 
during his entire life. 

Dr. Cuyler was born in the beautiful village of 
Aurora, N. Y., upon Cayuga Lake, of which his 
great-grandfather, Greneral Benjamin Ledyard, 
was the founder. He was graduated at Princeton 
in 1811, and at Princeton Theological Seminary in 
181:6. Two years later, he was ordained into the 
Presbyterian Ministry, and was installed pastor of 
the Third Presbyterian Church of Trenton, N. J., 
then of the Market St. Reformed Dutch Church of 
New York City, and in April 1860, of the Brooklyn 
Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church. 

Among the author's books are the following, 
nearly all of which have been reprinted in London 
and have a very wide circulation in Great Britain. 
Five or six of them have been translated into Dutch 
and Swedish: "Stray Arrows", "The Cedar 
Christian", " The Empty Crib", a small book pub- 
lished many years ago after the death of one of 
his children and full of solace and consolation to 
the hearts of sorrowing parents ; "Heart Life"; 
"Thought Hives"; "From the Nile to Norway"; 



358 Theologians. 

God's Light on Dark Clouds"; '' Wayside Springs", 
and " Right to the Point", of the "Spare Minute 
Series". 

Dr. Cu3^1er himself sa^'s that he considered his 
c/zze/ literary work to have been the preparation of 
over 3,000 articles for the leading religious papers 
of America. There might he added to this the 
publication of a large number of short and popular 
tracts. Here again we find, as in several instances 
before recorded in this book, a man of long ex- 
perience and good judgment placing in the highest 
rank of writings, useful to mankind, tliose done 
for the religious or secular* newspapers. We give 
a short passage 

FROM, "GOD'S LIGHT OX DARK CLOUDS." 

There is only one practical remedy for this 
deadly sin of anxiety, and that is to take short 
vieivs. Faith is content to live "from hand to 
mouth," enjoying each blessing from God as it 
comes. This perverse spirit of worry runs off and 
gathers some anticipated troubles and throws them 
into the cup of mercies and turns them to vinegar. 
A bereaved parent sits down by the new-made 
grave of a beloved child and sorrowfully says to 
herself, " Well, I have only one more left, and one 
of these days he may go off to live in a home of his 
own, or he may be taken away ; and if he dies, my 
house will be desolate and my heart utterly broken.'' 



Theologians. 359 

Now who gave that weeping mother permission to 
use that word ^'if"? Is not her trial sore enough 
now without overloading it with an imaginary 
trial ? And if her strength breaks down, it will be 
simply because she is not satisfied with letting God 
afflict her ; she tortures herself with imagined 
afflictions of her own. If she would but take a 
short view, she would see a living child yet 
spared to her, to be loved and enjoyed and lived 
for. Then, instead of having two sorrows, she 
would have one great possession to set over against 
a great loss ; her duty to the living would be not 
only a relief to her anguish, but the best tribute 
she could pay to the departed. 



iatlSeb^MamJiisraljam mip, 23. JB., JLE. M: 



Bishop Kip, since 1853, Bishop of California, 
was called to old St. Peter's Church, Morristown, 
immediately after his taking orders in 1835. "The 
first time the service of the Protestant Episcopal 



*Died, since the first edition of this book, at his home in San Francis- 
co, a little after midnight on Friday, April 7, 1893, in his S2nd year, and 
in the 40th year of his episcopate. 



360 Theologians. 

Church was used in Morristown, so far as known," 
says our historian, ''was in the summer of 1812. 
At tliat time Bishop Hobart of New York was visit- 
ing Mr. Rogers at Morristown, and by invitation 
of the officers of the First Presbyterian Church, he 
officiated one Sunday in their church, preaching 
and using the Episcopal service." 

For two years, 1820 and '21, the service was 
held on Sundays, at the house of George P. McCul- 
loch, and finally on Dec. -Ith, 1828, the church 
building was consecrated which has stood until 
quite recently. Now a superb stone edifice covers 
the ground of the old church, which is completed 
at this date, except the spire. 

In the ancestry of Bishop Kip we have a link 
with the far off stoiy of France, for he is descended 
from Ruloff de Kype of the 16th Century, who was 
a native of Brittany and warmly espoused the part 
of the Guises in the French civil war between Pro- 
testants and Papists. After the downfall of his 
party, this Ruloff fled to the Low Countries ; his 
son Ruloff became a Protestant and settled in Am- 
sterdam and his son Henry made one of the Com- 
pany which organized in 1588 to explore a north- 
east passage to the Indies. He came with his 
family, to America in 1635, but returned to Hol- 
land leaving here his two sons Henry and Isaac. 
Henry was a member of the first popular assembly 
in New Netherlands and Isaac owned the property 



Theologians. 361 

upon which now stands the City Hall Park of New 
York. Nassau Street was then called Kip Street in 
his honor, and is so laid down in the early maps. 

William Ingraham is a descendant of Isaac and 
was born in New^ York, Oct. 3, 1811. In 1831, he 
was graduated at Yale College and after first study- 
ing law and then divinity was admitted to orders 
and at once became the third rector of St. Peter's, 
at Morristown, remaining from July 13th, 1835, 
until November of the following year. Columbia 
bestowed upon him in 1847, the degree of S. T. D. 
Between the rectorship of St. Peter's and the bish- 
opric of California, he served as assistant at Grace 
Church, New York, and was rector of St. Paul's, 
at Albany. 

Bishop Kip has published a large number of 
books, many of which have gone through several 
editions. He has written extensively for the 
Church Revietv and the Churchman and several 
periodicals. Among his books are " The Unnoticed 
Things of Scripture", (1SG8); "The Early Jesuit 
Missions" (2 Vols., editions, 1846); "Catacombs 
of Rome", (8 editions, 1853); "Double Witness of 
the Church", (27 editions, 1845); "Lenten Fast", 
(15 editions, 1845) ; the last two were published in 
both England and America as was also "Christmas 
Holydays in Rome", (1846). Besides these are 
"Early Conflicts of Christianity", (6 editions) \ 



362 Theologians. 

^^Church of the Apostles" ; "Olden Times in New 
York" ; "Early Days of My Episcopate", (1892). 

EXTEACT FROM THE PEEFACE OF THE 
"EAELY JESUIT MISSIONS." 

There is no page of our country's history more 
touching and romantic than that which records the 
labors and sufferings of the Jesuit Missionaries. In 
these western Avilds they were the earliest pioneers 
of civilization and faith. The wild hunter or the 
adventurous traveler, who, penetrating the forests, 
came to new and strange tribes, often found that 
years before, the disciples of Loyola had preceded 
him in that wilderness. Traditions of the "Black- 
robes" still lingered among the Indians. On some 
moss-grown tree, they pointed out the traces of 
their work, and m wonder he diciphered, carved 
side by side on its trunk, the emblem of our salva- 
tion and the lilies of the Bourbons. Amid the 
snows of Hudson's Bay — among the woody islands 
and beautiful inlets of the St. Lawrence— by the 
council fires of the Hurons and the Algonquins— at 
the sources of the Mississippi, where first of the 
white men, their eyes looked upon the Falls of St. 
Anthony, and then traced down the course of the 
bounding river, as it rushed onward to earn its title 
of "Father of Waters"— on the vast prairies of 
Illinois and Missouri —among the blue hills which 
hem in thc^ salubrious dwellings of the Cherokees — 



Theologians. ^ ' 363 

and in the thick canebrakes of Louisiana — every- 
where were found the members of the Society of 
Jesus. Marquette, JoHet, Brebeuf, Jogues, Lalle- 
mand, Easles and Mares t, — are the names which 
the West should ever hold in remembrance. But 
it was only by suffering and trial that these early 
labours won their triumphs. Many of them too 
were men who had stood high in camps and courts, 
and could contrast their desolate state in the solita- 
ry wigwam with the refinement and affluence which 
had waited on their early years. But now, all 
these were gone. Home — the love of kindred— the 
golden ties of relationship — all were to be forgotten 
by these stern and high-wrought men, and they 
were often to go forth into the wilderness, without 
an adviser on their way, save their God. Through 
long and sorrowful years, they Tvere obliged to 
^' sow in tears" before they could ''reap in joy." 



Heb. aBiUiam Staunton, 13. W 



With this author, the fifth rector of old St. 
Peter's Church, in Morristown, we go back in asso- 



364 Theologians. 

ciation to the cincient city of Chester, England, 
where he was born and where his grandfather on 
his mother's side was a leading dissenting minister 
and the founder of Queen's Street Chapel, Chester. 
His father, an intellectual man and well read in 
Calvinistic theology, also affiliated with the Inde- 
pendents, but was often led by his fine musical 
taste to attend with his son the services of the Ca- 
thedral. It was in this Cathedral of Chester, which 
is noted for the beauty and majesty with which the 
Church's ritual is rendered, — that the boy acquired 
that love of music which placed him in after life in 
the front rank of church musicians. One who 
knew him well has said of him in this respect : 
^' This knowledge of music was profound and com- 
prehensive. He was not simply a musical critic or 
a composer of hymn tunes and chants, but he had 
followed out through all its intricacies the science 
of music. So well known was he for his learning 
and taste in this department that it was a connnon 
thing for professional musicians of distinction to 
go to him for advice and to submit their composi- 
tions to him, before publication. Much of his own 
music has been published. But his musical accom- 
plishments are best attested by the work vvliich he 
did as associate editor of 'Johnson's EncyclopcBdia', 
of which he was the musical editor and nearly all 
of the articles in which, relating to music, he 
wrote." He was also a prolific writer for church 



Theologians. 365 

reviews and other periodicals. Among his pubHca- 
tions in book form are : "A Dictionary of the 
Church", (1839); "An Ecclesiastical Dictionary", 
(1861) ; " The Catechist's Manual", a series of Sun- 
day School instruction books ; "Songs and Pray- 
ers"; "Book of Common Prayer"; "A Church 
Chant Book", and "Episodes of Clerical and Pa- 
rochial Life". 

Dr. Staunton came with his father and the 
family, when fifteen years of age, to Pittsburg, Pa. 
He was closely associated with the Eev. Mr. Hop- 
kins, afterward the Bishop of Vermont. His first 
ministerial charge was that of Zion Church, Pal- 
myra, N. Y., and it was in 1810 he accepted the 
rectorship of St. Peter's Church, Morristown, which 
position he held for seven years. He then orga- 
nized in Brooklyn, N. Y., a much needed parish, 
which he named St. Peter's after the parish he had 
just relinquished, 

"Dr. Staunton," says the present rector of St. 
Peter's the Rev. Robert N. Merritt, D. D.,— who 
took up the work of the parish in 1853, and to 
whose untiring exertions, the parish and the people 
of Morristown are largely indebted for the erection 
of the massive and beautiful stone structure that 
stands on the site of the church of Dr. Staunton's 
time, — "Dr. Staunton was no ordinary man, 
though he never obtained the position in the 
church to which his abilities entitled him. Be- 



366 Theologians. 

sides being above the average clergyman in theo- 
logical attainments, he was a scientific musician, 
a good mechanic, well read in general literature, 
and so close an observer of the events of his time 
that much information was always to be gained 
from him. His retiring nature and great modesty 
kept him in the back ground." 

The following interesting reminiscence comes 
to us, in a letter, dated Nov. 20, 1S92, from Mr. 
George Macculloch Miller, one of the boys who was 
under Dr. Staunton's ministration when rector for 
seven years of old St. Peter's. "I remember", 
says this parishioner, "Dr. Staunton very distinct- 
ly and with much affection as well as regard and 
gratitude, for the training I had from him in the 
doctrines and ordinances of the church. He was 
for those days a very advanced churchman, being 
among the first to yield to the influence the Oxford 
movement was exercising and to adopt the advance 
it inaugurated in the ritual and service of the 
liturgy, conforming strictly however himself, and 
teaching his people to recognize the authority of 
the rubrics. He maintained this, I think, till his 
death, and was ranked then as a conservative 
rather than a high churchman, though when he 
was here, the same attitude made him to be 
thought by some as almost dangerously ultra. 
He was not eloquent nor what might be called 
an attractive preacher, but wrote well and accom- 



TJieologians. 36T 

plished a great deal as a careful and impressive 
teacher of sound doctrine and christian morahty. 

^'Dr. Staunton was an accomphshed scholar in 
scientific as well as ecclesiastical learning, was skill- 
ed as a draughtsman and designed, I remember, the 
screen of old St. Peter's when the chancel stood at 
the South street end ; and it was wonderfully good 
and effective of its kind. He was also a trained mu- 
sician, and at one time instructed a class of young 
ladies in thorough-bass, among them being the two 
Misses Wetmore, my eldest sister, and others, and, 
in addition to this, he made the choir while he was 
here, both in the music used and its efficiency, a 
vast improvement upon what it had been. He was 
a tall man, fully six feet, of a severe countenance 
and rather austere manner, leading him to be 
thought sometimes cold and unsympathetic, though 
really he was most kind and considerate, and in all 
respects a devoted and watchful pastor. He pub- 
lished, I think, a church dictionary later in life 
which is stiU a standard book and authority. 

'' These are my impressions of Dr. Staunton 
received principally as a very young boy, though 
confirmed by an acquaintance continued till hi& 
death, and I retain the most sincere gratitude for 
the abiding faith in the sound doctrine of the Epis- 
copal Church which he, after my mother, so train- 
ed me in that I have accepted them ever since as 
impregnable ; and for this I am sure there are many 



368 Theologians. 

others of his pupils and parishioners besides myself 
to ^call him blessed.' " 



Irleli. artl)ur i*litd)ell, 23. 23.* 



Rev. Dr. Mitchell was the third pastor of the 
South Street Presbyterian Church, which was the 
fifth, says our historian, ^'in our galaxy of church- 
es." The time of his ministration, during which 
the church was greatly enlarged, both internally 
and externally, was from 1861 to 1868. 

Dr. Mitchell is the son of Matthew and Susan 
Swain Mitchell, and was born in Hudson, N. Y., 
in August 1835. Mr. Matthew Mitchell was a resi- 
dent of Morristown for many years, and married, 
for his second wife, Miss Margaret, daughter of 
the good Doctor John Johnes, and grand-daughter 
of the good Pastor Johnes. 

Dr. Mitchell was graduated at Williams Col- 
lege in 1853, was tutor in Lafayette College, Pa., for 
one year, and then traveled for a year in Europe 



*I)ied, siuce the first edition of this book, April 24, 1893, and laid to 
rest iu the Evergreen Cemetery of Morristown. 



Theologians. 369 

and the East. Eeturiiing, he entered the Union 
Theological Seminary of New York City and was 
graduated from there in 1859. In this year he ac- 
cepted the charge of the Third Presbyterian Church 
in Eichmond, Va., and in Oct. 1861, he became pas- 
tor of what was then caUed, the ' ' Second Presby- 
terian Church" in Morristown. The First Presby- 
terian Church of Chicago, 111., claimed him in 1868 
and in 1880 the First Presbyterian Church of Cleve- 
land, Ohio. In 1881, Dr. Mitchell became Secretary 
of the Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church 
to which position he had been called fifteen years 
before, but had felt constrained to decline. This 
important office, which from his intense and life- 
long interest in the great cause of Christian mis- 
sions to the heathen world, he was remarkably 
qualified to fill, he held at the time of his death. 

Dr. Mitchell's eloquence in the pulpit and on 
the platform, is so well known that it is only 
necessary to refer to it. Mastering his subject 
completely as he did, he had the rare power of con- 
densing clearly and giving out his thoughts in lan- 
guage and in tones of voice which held and attract- 
ed his audience to the end. He has published no 
books, only sermons and addresses in pamphlet 
form and innumerable articles in magazines and 
newspapers. Notable, among these, is his "Me- 
morial Sermon on James A. Garfield," delivered in 
the First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, Ohio, 



370 Theologians. 

on Sunday, Sept. 25, 1881, and published by a num- 
ber of prominent men who requested the privilege. 
It had a wide circulation. To the great value of 
this sort of literary work, several of our distin- 
guished authors have already testified. In the 
Church at Home and Abroad, we find the most ex- 
haustive articles from Dr. Mitchell's pen, on the 
missions and conditions of the various countries of 
the earth which he had also recently visited in a 
trip around the world. These are all written from 
so large a standpoint that they are as interesting 
to the general reader as to the specialist. In the 
publication, the ^'Concert of Prayer", many of 
these valuable papers are found, and a considerable 
number of his addresses, articles, &c., are bound 
among those of other writers, in large volumes. 
In the next generation we find a writer also, in Dr. 
Mitchell's daughter, Alice, w4io does not desire 
mention for the reason that her writings are so 
fragmentary and scattered. Nevertheless, her 
literary work has been considerable and cannot be 
easily measured or described. One who knows her 
well, says : ' ' Not many ladies are better read in 
missionary annals." In an article of hers, of great 
interest, published in the Concert of Prayer for 
Church Work Abroad, and entitled "The Martyrs 
of Mexico," we come upon the story of the Rev. 
John L. Stephens, (the missionary, not the traveler, 
of the same name, previously mentioned in this 



\ 



Theologians. 371 

book among "Travels", &c.). Miss Mitchell gra- 
phically tells us of his work as one of the earliest 
missionaries of the Congregational church to 
Mexico. 

In a memorial paper of May 4, 1893, on Dr. 
Mitchell, written by his friend of many years, Sec- 
retary EUinwood, we find the following : 

''After Dr. Mitchell's return from the East, 
his deepened sense of the awful reality of great na- 
tions, lying in darkness and in spiritual death, 
gave him an almost preternatural power of elo- 
quence. None who heard his address before the 
General Assembly in Detroit, as he described his 
night journey up the Yangtse, with no companion 
save his native oarsman, passing city after city, 
with hundreds of thousands of people who had 
never heard of Christ, the darkness of the night 
deepening his conception of their spiritual gloom, 
will ever forget that address. The same was de- 
livered with, if possible, still greater power, before 
the Synod of New York in Albany last October. 
This was only a month before he laid aside his 
work forever. Though he knew it not, the breath 
of the heavenly hills was even then upon his brow. 
He was borne beyond his strength, and he wrote 
me a few weeks later from Florida that he had 
never been the same man since that effort. It 
was worthy to be the last ; it was his final trumpet 
caU to the Synod and to the whole Christian 



372 Theologians. 

Church, to rise up m their strength and pubhsh the 
glad tidings ere another generation perish." 



ISeli. arijarleg ?£. IS^mx, m, m. 



For six or eight months in the midst of the 
Eev. Arthur Mitcheh's pastorate, a prominent 
scholar of the Presbyterian Church, the Eev. 
Charles E. Knox, D. D., fihed Dr. Mitchell's place 
as pastor of the South Street Church, Morristown, 
while the latter was absent in Europe and Pales- 
tine. This period was from September 1S63 to May 
1864. When Dr. Mitchell resigned in 1868, the 
present pastor, Kev. Dr. Erdman, was called at Dr. 
Knox's suggestion. From 1861: to 1873, Dr. Knox 
was pastor of the church at Bloomfield, N. J., and 
since that time has been President of the German 
Theological School of Newark, which is located in 
Bloomfield. Dr. Knox says, in writing of his so- 
journ in Morristown : ''I had a happy time with 
the good South street people and have retained al- 
ways the liveliest interest in all that belongs to 
them." 



TJieologians. 37S 

"A Year with St. Paul" had just been pub- 
lished when the charge of this South Street Church 
was undertaken. It has since been translated into 
Arabic at Beirut, Syria. ''It is in ^ood part," says 
the author, ''a compilation and condensation of 
' Conybeare and Howson's Life and Epistles of St. 
Paul', (then in two large and expensive volumes), 
with some original mattei\" It has a chapter for 
every Sunday of the year and is very popular. 

Dr. Knox began in Morristown a series of 
"Graduated Sunday School Text Books," — Primary 
Year, Second Year, Third Year, Fourth Year and 
Senior Year. This was an introduction of the se- 
cular graded system into Sunday School Teaching. 
It introduced the Quarterly Review which has 
since been followed. "David the King," a life of 
David with section maps inserted in the page and 
a location of the Psalms in his life, was published 
later at Bloomfield. 



Mel), aibcrt iErtimau, m. 23. 



The Rev. Dr. Erdman is entitled to honorable 
mention among Morristown writers. He has been 



374 Theologians. 

the faithful pastor of the South Street Presbyterian 
Church since May 1869, following the Eev. Arthur 
Mitchell, D. D. It was during his ministry that in 
1877, the church edifice w^as totally consumed by 
fire, and the beautiful new building located on 
its site, in the late Byzantine style. It is said by 
one w^ho knows and appreciates Dr. Erdman's work 
that "few men read more or digest better their 
reading.'^ 

For several years, he has prepared "Notes on 
the International Sunday School Lessons", for a 
monthly periodical published in Toronto, Canada. 

A number of sermons have been published by 
request, among them the "Sermon on the Fiftieth 
Anniversary of the South Street Presbyterian 
Church". 

Addresses on "Prophetic and other Bible Stu- 
dies" have been printed in Annual Eeports of the 
Bible Conference at Niagara on-the-Lake, Ontario, 
and, besides these, many fugitive newspaper arti- 
cles of value and importance. 

Dr. Erdmau has been largely interested in the 
general welfare, and especially the philanthi-opies, 
of the town, outside of his immediate church, and 
by this public spirit, earnestly and fearlessly mani- 
fested, in many instances, he has no doubt greatly 
extended his sphere of influence, and that of the 
church. He has been a warm supporter of, and 
has given nuich time and personal attention to the 



Theologian^. 375 

establishment of the Morris County Charities Aid 
Association and of the State Association which fol- 
lowed, carefully studying the questions of pauper 
and criminal reform for which purpose this organi- 
zation exists. 

In the Semi-Centennial Sermon we find the 
following remarkable record : 

EXTEACT FEOM THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL 

SERMON ON THE 50th ANNIVER- 

SARY OF THE CHURCH'S 

ORGANIZATION. 

I must note the unique fact that the history of 
these fifty years of Church life is the history of un- 
interrupted prosperity. Even that which seemed 
at the time to be against us — the destruction by fire 
of the former house of w^orship — proved to be, as 
are all the Lord's afflictions, a blessing in disguise ; 
for the history of the church since is that of con- 
tinued and ever-increasing prosperity, if growing- 
numbers and enlarged usefulness be criterion of 
success. A spirit of harmony and goodwill mark 
its whole course, and it is, therefore, with uumin- 
gled pleasure and gratitude to God, w^e may recall 
the past. No roots of bitterness and strife to be 
covered up, no rocks of offense to be carefully 
avoided ! 



376 Theologians. 

How the memories of the past throng around 
us — the saintly Hves of fathers and mothers, the 
godly service and earnest prayers of pastors and 
people, the fervent appeals from pulpit and teach- 
er's chair, — surely it would seem there could be no 
valid reason why any should be still unsaved or un- 
willing to take up the duties of christian service. 

Finally, as w^e here recall the story of the past 
and rejoice in the prosperity of the present, and 
while we look forward to still larger service and 
blessing in the days to come, let us, with a deep 
sense of our unworthiness and dependence, say, 
with the Psalmist: "Not unto us, Lord, not 
unto us ; but unto Thy name be all glory." 



Meli. Joisepi) itl. .If lijnn, ia. 



The Eoman Catholic Church in Morristown 
erected its first building in 1847. It was a small 
wooden structure, with seating capacity for about 
300 people and is now used by the parish school. It 
was in ls7l that the first ])riest in full charge, Rev. 
James Sheeran, was stationed here, and at his death 



Theologians. 377 

in 1881, the Eev. Joseph M. Flynn succeeded, who 
has continued in charge of the parish to the present 
time. He was named "Dean of the Catholics in 
Morris and Sussex Counties" about six years ago. 

This author has recently published a book, 
(Morristown, N. J., 1892), '' The Story of a Parish" 
from the first chapter of which we quote. Also he 
has written some magazine articles and a brochure 
on "Lent and How to Spend it. " He is now pre- 
paring for publication a volume of short sermons. 

"The Story of a Parish" is the story of the 
foundation and development of this parish of the 
Church of the Assumption, in Morristown, the 
corner stone of which was laid, June 30th, 1872. 

In the opening chapter, the author says ; 

" We know that Raphael, Bramante, and Mi- 
chel Angelo threw into St. Peter's the very heart and 
soul of their inspiration, to erect to the Hving God 
such a temple as the eye of man had never gazed 
upon. 

" But there are other monuments which thrill 
no less the beholder, and the names of their creators 
sleep in an impenetrable obscurity. The cross- 
crowned fane, lifting to the liighest heaven the 
sign of man's redemption, may tell us neither of 
him whose genius conceived nor of the toilers whose 
strong arm and cunning eye, in the burning heats 
of Summer, or in the chilling blasts of Winter, un- 
folded to the wondering crowds who daily watched 



378 Theologians. 

their labors, step by step, inch by inch, the beau- 
ties whose finished product Time has preserved to 
us in many a shire of Britain ; by the glistening 
lakes and verdant vales of Erin : in sunny Italy, 
in fair France, and in the hallowed soil bathed by 
oar own Potomac. To the humble laborer who dug 
the trenches, to the ai^tist whose chisel carved fo- 
liage or cusp or capital, a share in our grateful 
memory is due. " 



l^eli. (Beorge l^airi.^ (Sljatitoell 



The group of people who originated the idea of 
forming a second Episcopal Church in Morristown, 
perfected their plans in 1852. The following year 
the church building was erected. The first rector 
Eev. J. H. Tyng, assumed his duties in September, 
1852. The Rev. W. G. Sumner accepted a call to 
the parish in 1870. As he is now Professor of Po- 
litical Economy at Yale University — he will come, 
with his specialty, into a later group. In 1880, Rev. 
George H. Chadwell became rector of the parish, 
coming from Brooklyn where he had been assistant 



Theologians. 379 

to the Eev. Charles Hall, D. D., rector of Trinity 
Church of that City. Mr. Chadwell courageously 
undertook the removal of the church edifice from 
the spot where it had stood since 1854, on the 
corner of Morris and Pine streets, to its present site 
on South street, on wh ich occasion he delivered one 
of his important "Addresses" which was published 
and largely distributed. He lived to see his aim 
accomplished and not long after gave, in the church 
again, on what proved to be the last Sunday of his 
life, a sermon, which was also published under the 
title of ''A Farewell Discourse." 

Mr. Chadwell also published a monthly paper 
during his rectorship, called The Rector s Assistant, 
and wrote in other directions. In the ''Address on 
the Occasion of the Ee-opening of the Edifice for 
Divine service," August 22, 1886, we find a refer- 
ence to the interesting history of the land on which 
the building now stands, and its association with 
many of the old families of Morristown, as follows : 

"Originally the ground we are now occupying 
belonged to the First Presbyterian Church, which 
at that date constituted the only religious society 
in the town, and owned all the land on the east side 
of South street as far down as Pine street. This 
plot of ours formed a part of what was desig- 
nated the parsonage lot. The first sale of it took 
place in November of 1795, the same year the white 
church on the Green was dedicated and opened for 



380 Theologians. 

Divine worship. The consideration was one hundred 
and twenty pounds, money worth about $300 in 
the currency of the United States. The Trustees 
whose names appear in the deed are Silas Condict, 
Benjamin Lindsley. Jonathan Ford, John Mills, 
Richard Johnson, Jonathan Ogden and Benjamin 
Pierson — names which are still represented in our 
community. The purchaser was the Rev. James 
Richards. This gentleman was at the time the 
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, being the 
third in succession to that office. His ministry 
covered a period of fourteen years and was remark- 
ably successful. ^ ''^ "'• " 

" On his departure from Morristown Dr. Rich- 
ards sold the property we are now describing. The 
price realized was $4,000. From which I infer that 
there had been erected upon it the house which we 
propose to convert into a rectory. Otherwise I can 
not account for so great an increase in tlie value of 
the land as took place. - - - The new 
owner proved to be the Rev. Samuel Fisher, the 
successor of Dr. Richards in the pastorate of the 
church. Mr. Fisher was the son of Jonathan Fish- 
er, a native of this town. "''' - -^ In 1813 
under his auspices, the Female Charitable Society 
of Morristown, our most venerable eleemosynary 
institution, was founded, Mr. Fisher's wife being 
elected to the honored position of its first President. 
■^ ''^' ■^" It was somewiiere about this time 



Theologians. 381 

that Mrs. Wetmore, the widow of a British officer, 
opened on this site a private school for girls.'' ("Mrs. 
Wetmore was the mother of Mrs. James CoUes who 
long lived, in summer, upon the large estate now 
opened to the city, in streets and avenues, and 
largely built upon. She was also the mother of 
Charles Wetmore, the artist who painted the pic- 
ture of "Old Morristown,'' in 1S15. now in posses- 
sion of Hon. Augustus W. Cutler, to whose courtesy 
we are indebted for the privilege of having made 
from it the fine pen-and-ink sketch of Miss Suzy 
Howell, for the frontispiece of this book.) "From 
1S14 to 1S29, our property passed through the hands 
successively of Israel Canfield, James Wood and 
Silas Condict. During this period, or rather a por- 
tion of it, one of Xew Jersey's most promising law- 
yers resided on this spot. I refer to Mr. William 
Miller, an older brother of our late United States 
Senator, the Hon. J. W. Miller. - "^ ^ ' 
A citizen of Morristown who was personally ac- 
quainted with him has lately written me : " The 
noble character and the bi'illiant career of this young- 
lawyer, which were cut short by his untimely death, 
are still remembered with lively interest by some of 
our oldest inhabitants.' 

" In 1^:?9 the property again changed hands, 
the purchaser being Miss Mary Louisa Mann. Her 
father was the editor of The Morris Counfi/ Gazette 
afterwards known as The Genius of Liberty, and of 



382 Theologians. 

The Palladium of Liberty, the first newspapers is- 
sued in Morristown. He also published in 1805 an 
edition of the Holy Scriptures, which gained con- 
siderable notoriety as ^ The Arminian Bible, ' from 
the error occurring in Heb. vi, 4, ' For it is possible 
for those who have once been enlightened .... if 
they shall fall away to renew them again unto re- 
pentance. ' Miss Mann, now Mrs. Lippincott, of 
Succasunna, together with her sister, Miss Sarah, 
put up the building which is to serve us hereafter 
as a Sunday School room and church parlor. It 
was erected to meet the wants of a female semina- 
ry established by them in 1822, and which had 
grown under their efficient management so popular 
that its advantages were sought by pupils from all 
quarters. Since the close of the school the build- 
ings occupied b}^ it have been used as a boarding 
house. As such their hospitality has been enjoyed 
by numbers whose names are familiar to us in con- 
nection with important features of our national ex- 
istence, finance, war and art. I mention in partic- 
ular the Behnonts, the Perrys, the Kogers, the En- 
ningers. And here in the front parlor of this same 
boarding house in the summer of 1851, when it had 
been determined to found a new parish, the first 
meeting of its originators was held. 'In that 
room,' to quote the language of one present on the 
occasion, ' the infant Church was christened The 
Church of the Redeemer, and from that day it 



Theologians. 383 

lived ; very feebly at first, not a very strong child, 
but tenderly nurtured, always slowly gaining, un- 
til now, after thirty-four years, it promises to grow 
in strength and to have a powerful future.' Our 
immediate predecessor in the title to the land w^as 
Mr. George W. King, who acquired it in 1854 for 
the sum of 88,000." 

Of the character of the church, Rev. Mr. Chad- 
well says : 

" '^This Church then, I may observe, has always 
been conservative in its character. Those who 
founded it gave to it this tone. They were men 
opposed in mind and temperament to that mediae- 
val type of theology which had begun to prevail in 
their day, and which has since become popular in 
various quarters. They were out of sympathy with 
the movement which was then aiming at, and 
which has since succeeded in, undoing much the re- 
forming divines of the sixteenth century accom- 
plished. They were averse, for example, to every- 
thing that savors of sacerdotalism — to the doctrines 
which convert the ambassador of Christ into a sac- 
rificing priest, the communion table into a veritable 
altar, and the eucharist into a sacrifice and constant 
miracle. Elaborate rites and ceremonies, in which 
some find a delight, and perhaps a help, were dis- 
tasteful to them. They felt themselves unable to 
derive edification from these sources. On the other 
hand they were in harmony with what may be de- 



384 . Theologians. 

nominated the protestant tendencies of our Com- 
munion. Of the name itself of protestant they had 
not learned to be ashamed. They believed in the 
principles of the great Eeformation of three centu- 
ries ago. They did not judge its promoters deluded 
men, nor pronounce them to have 'died for a cause 
not worth dying for.' They honored them as God- 
enlighteued, and venerated them as heroes and mar- 
tyrs. The changes these effected in dogma and in 
ritual they regarded not as mistakes, but as advan- 
ces in the right direction — from error toward truth. 
They looked to Christ as their only priest, to His 
cross as their only altar and to his death thereon as 
the only atonement for their sin. They loved sim- 
plicity of worship and cultivated it in their public 
devotions. In fine, they were content and best sat- 
isfied with that plain system of teaching and prac- 
tice which the Prayer Book as we have it now 
seems most naturally to favor. At least this is the 
impression of these men which I have received 
from reading the record and memorials of them- 
selves they have left behind. So when they orga- 
nized this parish it was along these lines which I 
have indicated. And from its inception to the 
present moment it has retained, with perhaps some 
unessential modifications, the stamp they gave it." 



Theologians. 385 



The Rev. Dr. Hughes, who succeeded the Rev. 
George H. Chadwell, in 1887, as rector of the Church 
of the Redeemer should have followed our little 
group within this group — of editors and theolo- 
gians, except that he has present charge of a parish, 
which they have not. He was officially on the 
editorial staff of The Churchman during 188T-'88, 
and has written editorials and articles for The 
Church Journal as well as for secular papers. He is 
a member of the Executive Council of the Church 
Temperance Society and Corresponding Secretary 
of the University Board of Regents and originator 
of the scheme. 

Dr. Hughes was born at Little Falls, New 
York, and losing both parents early in life, re- 
moved to Frankfort, Kentucky, among his moth- 
er's relatives. From boarding-school in Ohio, he 
entered Kenyon College, class of '71. At the end 
of Freshman year he went to Hobart College and 
was graduated there at the head of his class in 
1871. During 1871-'72, he studied in Berlin, Ger- 
many, and was graduated in 1875 from the General 
Theological Seminary, New York. The same year 
he became rector of St. John's Church, Buffalo, N. 



386 Theologkuis. 

Y., one of the most important parishes of the dio- 
cese of Western New York. This charge he re- 
signed in 1883, to accept a position of honor, to 
which he had heen unanimously elected, in Hobart 
College, Geneva, N. Y., — namely, the Chaplaincy 
of the College, and Professorship of ''^Philosophy 
and Christian Evideiices," the latter department 
having been hitherto held by the President of the 
College. It was with great regret, that the people 
of Buffalo as well as the people of St. John's jDarish, 
parted with both Dr. and Mrs. Hughes, if we may 
judge from all that was expressed in the press on 
the occasion of their departure. ''Here," says one 
writer, "they will be missed, not only by those 
with whom they were closely associated in church 
or neighborhood relationship, but more especially 
by the sick, the humble, the troubled, and the 
needy, for whose consolation and comfort they 
have so unselfishly labored, in many parts of the 
city, during the last seven years. A thousand 
blessings follow them. " 

Among Dr. Hughes' writings is an important 
brochure on Boys' Guilds, published under the 
auspices of the Church Temperance Society, and 
entitled "Hints for the Formation of Bands of 
Young Crusaders." In this he discusses "one of 
the most practical questions before the Church, and 
the one which the busy rector often asks in sheer 
bewilderment, if not despan- : 'What shall be done 



Theologians. 387 

with the hoys of the Church, from the ages of ten 
to seventeen V " He also offers a solution in a 
plan of organization for one, among many works, 
which may interest and occupy them, thus train- 
ing them as the boys of the Church to become the 
men of the Church. 

In the Magazine of Christian Literature for 
September 1S92, an extract from which we give 
below, we find the leading article to be from the 
pen of Dr. Hughes, on "The Convergence of Dar- 
winism and the Bible." "The conclusions here 
reached," the author tells us, "have been sub- 
jected, during the past eight years, to efficient 
criticism and repeated examinations." It is pro- 
posed that these articles shall continue and finally 
appear in book form. Of this article, a prominent 
clergyman of the Church, whose opinion weighs 
for much, and whose words we have asked the 
privilege of giving, writes Eev. Dr. Hughes, as fol- 
lows : "I am deei3ly moved in recognizing the 
penetration, the sublimity and sweetness of your 
essay in the September number of the Magazine of 
Christian Literature. I trust No. I. is prophetic 
of future numbers. 

"You have made a great disco veiy and you dis- 
close it with great power and beauty. How won- 
derful is this converging witness of Nature and the 
Spirit, Faith and Science to the approaching Day 
of the Son of Man. No question, the Day is swiftly 



388 Theologians. 

coming. Its light is on the hills. The many signs 
of His approach and His appearing seem to fill the 
air and make the spirit tremble with holy fear and 
gladness. The Lord hasten the Day. Let us pre- 
pare ourselves with joy to greet Him. Meantime, 
we may greet one another in the full assurance of 
faith, as I you, brother, by these presents." 

*'THE CONVERGENCE OF DARWINISM AND 
THE BIBLE CONCERNING MAN AND 
THE SUPREME BEING. " 

Science and religion are in reality dealing with 
the same phenomena. Immense human and per- 
sonal interests are involved in them. Neither can 
be discussed in the absolutely " dry light " of sheer 
intellectuality. 

Consequences of immense import to the indi- 
vidual character, to the social well-being, and to 
eternal hopes flow directly from each. 

If, by scientific methods, which are plainly 
sound, conclusions are reached that are directly at 
variance with the religious faith of the vast ma- 
jority, both a social and an intellectual as well as 
an ethical revolution is threatening. 

Or if by religious methods traditions are estab- 
lished which deny room to the conclusions of pro- 
gressive human thought, religion inevitably invites 
scepticism, the casting off of all traditions, and the 



Theologiatis. 389 

unfortunate disclaim of that which is forever true 
in faith. 

There are not a few of us to whom our Lord 
and Saviour Jesus Christ is dearer far than the 
most acute thinker in the domain of human specula- 
tion or the profoundest student of the world as it is. 

If it come to an attack or a logical deoial of 
that which He is and teaches, we do not hesitate 
to make a personal matter of it. 

If Darwinism, e. g., as a system of ultimate 
postulates demands that we yield up the Lord of 
Life to be crucified afresh by the powers of the 
world, Darwinism, as such, will get no quarter. 
Getting no quarter, it will give none, and it be- 
comes an internecine strife that knows no truce and 
admits no peace until the one or the other lies dead 
on the field of contest. 

But if, as a matter of fact, such a conflict is 
really illogical, hasty, and essentially inimical to 
both modern science, and to the Christian faith, 
then much is gained not only for peace, but still 
more for truth. 

It is the direct object of this article to demon- 
strate, so far as demonstration is possible, that the 
theory of Darwin, instead of antagonizing, tends 
irresistibly to afiirm the most fundamental truths 
of the Bible as commonly held by the so-called 
orthodox Christian world. Nay, more, not only to 
affirm, but to give them greater power. 



QUIETIST. 



iMi^B Hmantia Hiug, 



A singular book has been written and published 
by Miss Anianda King, entitled "God's Furnace". 
The character of the book partakes somewhat of 
the line of thought of Madame Guyon, who be- 
longed to a sect of religious mystics called the 
" Quietists", which originated in the ITth century, 
and who maintained that religion consists in the 
withdrawal of the mind from the world's interests 
and anxieties, and its constant employment in the 
passive contemplation of God and His attributes. 
In the book, " God's Furnace'', the author empha- 
sizes the power of prayer and gives some remarka- 
ble experiences of her own, as to its results. The 
author of this book was told recently, by a well- 
known citizen of Moi'ristown who knew Miss King, 



Qidetist. 391 

that she was a woman of rare spiritual attainments 
and that he treasured the memory of the inter- 
view's he had had with her as among the most val- 
uable and uplifting in his life. 

It was because of the expressed wash of the 
Eev. Dr. J. H. Mcllvaine, who was in Morristown 
for a time supplying the pulpit of the First Presby- 
terian Church, that Miss King published this book, 
and for it Dr. Mcllvaine wrote an "Introductory 
Note", in which he says : " The book records the 
experience of a Christian woman of superior ta- 
lents, with respect to the nature and efficacy of 
prayer, which I know to be genuine and which I 
think to be remarkable."' 

Miss King, a life-long resident of Morristown, 
was the sister of Mr. George W. King, and lived 
with him on the South street property which he 
purchased in 185:1, and, thirty years later, sold to 
the Vestry of .the Church of the Eedeemer, and 
upon which that church now stands. 



PUBLIC SPEAKERS 



AND 



LAWYERS 



i^on. Eetoig ffloniiict, M^ JB. 



Among the public speakers of early Morris- 
town, none are more noted than Dr. Lewis Con- 
diet, who was collaterally connected with the Hon. 
Silas Condict, patriot of the Ee volution, referred to 
elsewhere in this volume. Dr. Condict was born 
in Morristown, in 1773, and was a physician of emi- 
nence. He lived for fifty years and more in the 
house on South street, now occupied by the Rev. 
Dr. Twining and owned by a member of Dr. Con- 
diet's family. It is recorded of Dr. Condict that he 
was a man of more than ordinary ability, that he 
was remarkable for his geniality of temperament, 



Public Speakers and Laivyers. 393 

his great conversational powers, his kindly wit and 
gentle humor. He entered into public office early 
in life and for many years filled positions of honor 
and influence. For fiYe years, from 1805, he Avas a 
member of the State Legislature of N. J. , the two 
later years officiatiug as Speaker. He was one of 
the Commissioners for settling the boundary line 
between New York and New Jersey in 1807, and he 
was a representative in Congress for several ses- 
sions. At one time he was Sheriff of Morris Coun- 
ty, and in 1841 he was a Presidential Elector. He 
died at Morristown, 1862, in his eighty-first year. 

During the years of his public life he delivered 
many addresses and orations which were published. 
Notable among these, is the Fourth of July oration, 
delivered at Morristown in the old church, in 1828, 
which, says one of his admirers, ' ' will bear reading 
now." Dr. Condict was also chosen to present the 
address of welcome to Lafayette on his return to 
this country and his visit to Morristown, on July 
14, 1825, when, — we find, in an account of this 
visit made at the time by one of his party — ''He 
(Lafayette) was addressed in behalf of the town by 
Dr. Lewis Condict in a very eloquent manner.'' 



394 Public Speakers and Laiuyers. 



We are indebted to Edward Q. Keasbey, Esq., 
^Taiidson of Mr. Miller, for the facts and data of 
the following brief sketch. 

The Hon. Jacob W. Miller was born in Novem- 
ber, ISOO, in German Valley, Morris County, N. J. 
He studied law in Morristown with his brother, 
William W. Miller from 1S18 to 1823, when he was 
licensed to practice as attorney. He was admitted 
to the bar of the Supreme Court as counsellor in 
1826 and in 1837 he was called to the degree of Ser- 
geant at Jbaw and he was one of the last to whom 
the degree was given. He had a large practice in 
Morristown and w^as one of the leading advocates 
at the cii'cuit in Sussex and Warren as well as 
Morris Counties. Mr. Elmer in his reminiscen- 
ces says : "He was distinguished not only as a 
fervent and impressive speaker, but for ])atient in- 
dustry, faithfulness and tact. He was distinguish- 
ed also for that sound common sense which is 
above all other sense, and was, by its exhibition in 
public and private, a man of great personal influ- 
ence." 

In ls;^S he was elect(Hl a member of tlie Coun- 
cil, as the State Senate was then called, and in 18-10, 



Public SiJeakers and Lawyers. 395 

he was elected by the Whig party to the Senate of 
the United States. He was elected again in 1846, 
and remained in the Senate until 1852. He did not 
speak very often^ but when he spoke it was after a 
careful study of the subject and his words carried 
the greater weight. He spoke with wisdom and elo- 
quence. A large number of these speeches are pub- 
lished in scattered pamphlets or in volumes among 
others. They have never been collected. One of 
the earliest of these iinportant speeches was on the 
resolutions of the day in favor of a protective tariff. 
On May 23, 1844, Mr. Miller dehvered a speech 
against the treaty for annexing Texas to the Uni- 
ted States. The objections to the treaty as stated 
by him are of considerable interest in the present 
day. He opposed the annexation on the ground 
that it was using the National Government to give 
an advantage to the Slave States. "Slavery, " he 
said was ' ' a matter to be regulated and controlled 
by the States, and neither to be interfered with nor 
extended by the National Government. New Jer- 
sey had abolished slavery herself and did not ask 
any territory into which to send her slaves." On 
Feb'y 21, 1850, he spoke upon the "Proposition to 
Compromise the Slavery Question" and in favor of 
the admission of California into the Union. 

Among others of his speeches, were those "On 
the Exploration of the Interior of Africa and in 
favor of the Independence of Liberia", delivered in 



896 Public Speakers and Lawyers. 

the Senate of the United States, March 1853 ; ''In 
Defence of the American Doctrine of Non-Interven- 
tion", dehvered in the Senate of the U. S. Feb. 26, 
1852; ''On the Mexican War and the Mode of 
Bringing it to a Speedy and Favorable Conclusion", 
Feb. 2, 1847 ; ''On the Ten Regiments Bill", Feb. 8, 
1848, against the prosecution of the Mexican War. 
Mr. Miller worked and spoke earnestly in favor of 
"Establishing and Encouraging an American Line 
of Steamers". On April 22, 1852, he delivered a 
carefully prepared speech in favor of sustaining 
the Collins line of Mail Steamers, and advocated 
the policy of a subsidy for carrying the mails, 
which was successful then and has now again been 
adopted, already resulting in the restoration of the 
American flag to the transatlantic steamers. 

Besides these speeches, in the Senate, Mr. Mil- 
ler delivered a good many addresses and orations. 
Among these was an oration delivered in Morris- 
town on the Fourth of July, 1851. Even then he 
foreboded the attempt to break up the Union and, 
speaking of Secession as rebellion, he maintained 
the power of the Nation under the Constitution to 
defend the Union. Several addresses were deliver- 
ed before historical societies and some in the direc- 
tion of the agricultural interests of the country. 
Before the New Jersey Historical Society in Tren- 
ton, he spoke of "The Iron State ; Its Natural Po- 
sition, Power and W^ealth", Jan. 11), 1851. Before 



Public Speakers and Laivyers. 397 

the Bristol A^-ricultural Society at New Bedford, 
Mass., Sept. 28, 185i, he spoke on '"American Ag- 
riculture ; its Development and Influence at Home 
and Abroad". 



i^on. fflSailliam li3uruet Itinuep. 



Mr. Kinney, whose wife, Elizabeth C. Kinney, 
and whose grandson, Alexander Nelson Easton, 
have already been represented among our Poets, 
may be claimed by Morristow^n, for his associations 
of boyhood and of many years in later life. A man 
of unusual culture, no one who knew him could 
forget the charm of his courtly manners and de- 
lightful conversation. He founded TJie Neivark 
Daily Advertiser, in 1833. It was then the only 
daily newspaper in the State, and uniting with it 
The Sentinel of Freedom, a long established weekly 
paper, he gave to the journal a tone so high that it 
was said of him, '^ his literary criticisms, contained 
in it, had more influence upon the opinions of lite- 
rary men than those of any other journalist of the 
time." He was fortunate in having an accom- 



398 Public Sj^eakers and Laivyers. 

plished son, Thomas T. Kinney, Esq., of Newark, 
N. J., to follow in his footsteps and to continue the 
editorial work he had begun in this leading New 
Jersey paper. From Mr. Thomas T. Kinney we 
have a few words of reminiscence written in reply 
to the question of a friend as to what his father's 
early associations with Morristown might have 
been. 

""My father," he says, "was born at Speed- 
well, Morris County (in the edge of Morristown). I 
think it was in the house afterwards owned and 
occupied by the late Judge Yail, and the same in 
which his son Alfred lived. He invented the tele- 
graph alphabet of dots and lines, which made 
Morse's system practicable, and it is still used. 

"Speedwell is on a stream upon which there 
were mill-sites, owned and worked by my father's 
ancestry and there is a tradition in the family that 
his uncle in trying to save a mill during a freshet 
lost his life and the body was afterwards found 
through a dream by another member of the family. 
The lake at Speedwell w^as a picturesque spot and 
Sully, the artist, painted his great picture of the 
*Lady of the Lake' there, the subject being 
Lucretia Parsons, a beautiful girl wiiose family 
came from the West Indies and settled in the 
neighborhood. Lucretia married a Mr. Charles 
King who lived at the Park House in Newark and 
had the original sketch from which Sully painted 



Public Speakers and Lawyers. 391) 

the head m the picture. My father was intimate 
in the family and I think that some of his ancestry 
rest in the burial ground of the old Presbyterian 
Church at Morristown, — from all of which we may 
infer that many of his youthful da}? s were passed 
there." 

Mr. Kinney studied under Mr. Whelpley, au- 
thor of ''The Triangle'', and subsequently studied 
under Joseph C. Hornblower, of Newark. In 1820 
he began his editorial life in Newark, which he con- 
tinued w4th slight interruption until his appoint- 
ment in 1851, as United States Minister to Sardinia. 
''In this position of honor," it is said, "he repre- 
sented his country with rare ability." With Count 
Cavour and other men of eminence in Sardinia, he 
discussed the movement for the unification of Italy. 
For important services rendered to Great Britain, 
Lord Palmerston sent him a special despatch of ac- 
knowledgment and by his own foresight, judgment 
and prompt action in the case of the exiled Kossuth, 
he saved the United States from enlisting in a 
foreign complication. In Florence Mr. and Mrs. 
Kinney wxre constantly in the society of the 
Brownings, the Trollopes and others of literary 
distinction. During his life abroad, at the expira- 
tion of his term of office as Minister to Sardinia, 
while residing in Florence, Mr. Kinney became deep- 
ly interested in the romantic history of the Medici 
family. He began a historical work on this sub- 



400 Public Speakers and Lawyers. 

ject, to be entitled, '^ The History of Tuscany", 
which promised to be of great importance, but al- 
though carried far on to completion, it was not 
finished when his life ended, in 1880. 

Mr. Kinney, besides his editorial writing, de- 
livered, by request, a number of important orations 
which were published. The last of these, "On the 
Bi- Centennial of the Settlement of Newark", and 
delivered on the occasion of that celebration, we 
find in a volume published in 1866, entitled "Col- 
lections of the New Jersey Historical Society". 



I^on. 3[ri)eol»ort^ #. lAauDolpi). 



Theodore Fitz Eandolph was born in New 
Brunswick, June 24, 1826. His father, James F. 
Randolph, for thirty-six years publisher and editor 
of The Fredonian, was of Revolutionary stock, be- 
longing to the Virginia family, and for eight years 
represented the Whig Party in Congress. The son 
received a liberal education and was admitted to 
the bar in 1848. He frequently contributed articles 
to his father's paper when still a youth. In 1850 



Public Speakers and Lawyers. 401 

he took up his residence in Hudson County, where 
he resided twelve years and until he removed to 
Morristown. In 1852 he married a daughter of 
Hon. W. B. Coleman, of Kentucky, and a grand- 
daughter of Chief Justice Marshall. To Mrs. Ran- 
dolph belongs the honor of originating and carry- 
ing forward in Morristown, the interest of the great 
^'Indian Association" of our American women, 
w^hich has already accomplished so much for the 
red man in our land. In 1860 Governor Ran- 
dolph with others of the American party, formed a 
coalition with the Democrats to whom he ever af- 
ter adhered. In 1861 he was elected to the State 
Senate for an unexpired term and in the following 
year he was re-elected and served till 1865. In 1867, 
he was made President of the Morris and Essex 
Railroad and continued to act as such until the 
lease was made to the Delaware and Lackawanna 
Company. In 1868, he was elected Governor of 
the State and proved a most able and independent 
Chief Magistrate. In January, 1875, he was elected 
to the United States Senate in which he served a 
full term of six years. In 1873 he was one of the 
four who formed and carried out the design of 
preserving the Washington Headquarters as "a his- 
toric place". His sudden death on the seventh day 
of November, 1888, shocked the whole community 
in whose affections he filled so large a place. 

Governor Randolph was a man of most genial 



402 Public Speakers and Laivyers. 

manner, honorable in all his business transactions 
and most liberal-minded and fearless as a legislator. 
Says one who knew him intimately : ' ' He filled 
w^ell all the duties to which his fellow-citizens 
called him." 

But it is as a writer that his name appears 
here. His messages to the Legislature while Gov- 
ernor and his speeches in the United States Senate 
are known of all and bear the impress of his charac- 
ter. These are scattered through numerous public 
documents and have never yet been collected in 
book form. His many contributions to the press 
Avere mostly political. In 1871, he pronounced an 
oration at the dedication of the Soldiers' Monument 
on our public square, which was published in our 
County papers, and on July 5, 1875, at tlie celebra- 
tion of the National holiday at Headquarters, he 
made the eloquent address, which is the best speci- 
men of his skill. This address is given, entire, in 
Hon. Edmund D. Halsey's '^History of the Wash- 
ington Association of New Jersey", and from it 
a quotation is made in the opening chapter of this 
book, on "Historic Morristown". 



Public Speakers and Lawyers. 403 



Chief Justice Whelpley, by the high order of 
his judicial quahties^ rose rapidly from the Bar to 
the Bench. He was the only son of Dr. William 
A. Whelpley, a native of New England and a physi- 
cian of wide practice in Morris town. Dr. Whelpley 
was a cousin of the Eev. Samuel Whelpley, who 
wrote " The Triangle". The mother of Judge 
Whelpley was a daughter of General John Dodd 
of Bloomfield, N. J. She was a sister of the 
distinguished lawyer Amzi Dodd 1st, and aunt 
of Yice-Chancellor Amzi Dodd, of Newark. He 
was graduated at Princeton, with distinction, at 
the early age of sixteen ; studied law with his uncle, 
Amzi Dodd, and began its practice in Newark, N. 
J. In 1841 he removed to Morristown and became 
a partner of the late Hon. J. W. Miller. He was 
first appointed to the position of Associate Justice 
of the Supreme Court and in a few years became 
Chief Justice. 

The late At-torney- General Frelinghuysen said 
of him : "Chief Justice Whelpley's most marked 
attributes of character were intellectual. The vig- 
orous thinking powers of his mother's family were 
clearly manifest in him. No one could have known 
his uncle, Amzi Dodd, without being struck with 



404 Public Speakers and Lawyers. 

the marked resemblance between them. The Chief 
Justice was well read in his profession, familiar 
with books, and yet he was a thinker rather than a 
servile follower of precedent. He was a first-class 
lawyer. He sought out and founded himself on 
principles. He did not stick to the mere bark of a 
subject. He had confidence in his conclusions and 
he had a right to have it, for they logically rested 
upon fundamental truths. But while his intellec- 
tual characteristics were most marked, he had ad- 
mirable moral traits. He felt the responsibilities 
of life and met them. He was no trifier. He had 
integrity, which, at the bar and on the bench, was 
beyond all suspicion. " 

And Cortlandt Parker, his intimate and life- 
long friend, said of him : 

'•'Intellectually, his qualities were rare. He 
was made for a Judge. Judicial position was his 
great aim and desire, and when he attained it, his 
whole mind was devoted to its duties ; they were 
enjoyment to him ; he felt his strength and was 
determined not merely to be a judge, but such a 
judge as would honor his exaltation, and exercise 
eminently that high usefulness which belongs to 
that office ". 

Chief Justice Whelpley may be justly ranked 
among important writers of the legal profession. 
His legal opinions found in the Law Reports are 
characterized by strength, independence and knowl- 
edge of the principles of law. 



Public Speakei^s and Laivi/ers. J:05 



In a city so honored in the number of its dis- 
tinguished legal minds, it need not be a surprise to 
find such a man as Jacob Vanatta, but of only a 
few can it be said as was truly remarked of him : 
"His practice grew until, at the time of his death, 
it was probably the largest in the State. His repu- 
tation advanced with his practice, and for years he 
stood at the head of the New Jersey Bar, as an 
able, faithful, conscientious and untiring advocate 
and counsel. He may be truly called one of the 
greatest of corporation lawyers. He was for 3^ears 
the regular Counsel of the Delaware, Lackawanna 
and Western Railroad Company, of the Central 
Railroad Company, and more or less of many other 
corporations, and his engagements have carried him 
frequently before the highest Courts of New York, 
Pennsylvania and of the United States Supreme 
Court ". 

The character of Mr. Vanatta's talent was 
wholly different from that of Judge Whelpley. 
The one rose brilliantly and suddenly, driven out by 
the force of an inborn genius, the other attained to 
what he was through untiring industry and plod- 
ding labor. "More than any man I have ever 
known, from his clerkship to his death ", says Mr. 



406 Public Speakers and Laivyers. 

Theodore Little, into whose office Mr. Vanatta en- 
tered a student in the year 1845,, "he seemed to 
have engraved on his very heart the motto, ' Perse- 
verantia vincit omnia,^ and in that sign he con- 
quered and achieved his success ". 

Mr. Vanatta's pubhshed writings are mostly 
articles on political questions and many speeches 
and addresses, which wrere often reprinted. One of 
these in particular, made a profound impression. 
It w^as delivered at EahwTiy, wiien our civil vv^ar 
was threatening, and contained a strong argument 
and appeal for the Union. 



?^on. (Keorge iEr. aajcrtg, 



Our present Governor of New Jersey, Hon. 
(leorge T. Werts was born at Hackettstown, N. J., 
March 24th, 1846, and was admitted to the bar in 
1807. He was Recorder of Morristow^n from May 
1888 to 1885, and was elected Mayor in May 1886, 
again in 1888 and in 181)0. During the session of 
the State Senate in 1881), he served as President of 
the Senate, and was re-elected Senator in the same 
year. During his time as Senator, he served on 



Public Speakers and Laivyers. 407 

many of the most important Committees and the 
new Ballot Eeform Law and the new License Law 
were both drafted by him ; laws which embrace, 
perhaps, the most radical change of any recently 
enacted. 

While Mayor of Morristown some of the most 
important ordinances of the city were of his draft- 
ing ; indeed w^hile Mayor, he paid particnlar atten- 
tion to every ordinance drafted. 

Early in 1S92 he was appointed Judge of the 
Supreme Court of New Jersey, resigning the offices 
of State Senator and Mayor of Morristown to accept 
this honor, and he resigned the position of Judge 
to accept that of Governor, to which office he was 
elected in November, 1892. 

Many speeches and addresses of Governor Werts 
have been published in the metropolitan and State 
papers, and in pamphlet form. Several are scatter- 
ed through large volumes containing the speeches 
and addresses of others. These are mostly political, 
but some are on other subjects, and have been de- 
livered before juries and at reunions, in the Senate, 
and on other occasions. Among these published 
papers are also opinions and decisions while Judge 
of the Supremo Court. 



408 Public Speakers and Lawyers. 



Mr. Eandolph has issued a valuable work, 
known to us as '' Jarman on Wills", 1881, and 1882 
being the fifth American edition by Mr. Randolph 
and Mr. William Talcott. This work adds a third 
volume to a famous two-volume English book. 

In 1888, was issued '^Randolph on Commercial 
Paper", which work is of three volumes, and con- 
tains 3,300 pages on bills, notes, &c., and is consid- 
ered by the legal profession to be quite exhaustive 
of the subject. ''These", says the author, "are 
legal monsters into which lawyers dig and delve 
and which settle knotty questions no doubt, but 
which probably will not be thoroughly investigated 
by women, until Fashion or Famine shall drive 
them into the legal profession". 

Again we may quote the author's words, when 
he says in his usual happy vein of humor, about all 
his important legal productions, that ''they are a 
necessary nuisance to the maker's friends and the 
unwilling buyers, that there is no end of making 
many such, and that they might be written down 
in line, on a heavy page with some of his brother 
writers on other abstruse subjects and set in a mi- 
nor key". 



Public Speakers and Lawyers, 409 



In one of the large New York dailies of August 
1892, we read the following: '''Mr. Keasbey, the 
well-known New Jersey lawyer, has some hun- 
dred pages on 'Electric Wires in Streets and High- 
ways/ a new subject of growing importance." 
This refers to a law book published by Mr. Keasbey 
entitled " The Law of Electric Wires in Streets and 
Highways", Callaghan and Co., Chicago. Mr. 
Keasbey has also edited The Netv Jersey Law Jour- 
nal since 1879 and The Hospital Revieiu since 1888. 



SCIENTISTS, 



Samuel Jfinlnj iSreesse ftlori^e, EiL. 30 



Nothing could be more romantic than the story 
of the Telegraph, the practical application of which 
began in Morris town, for it is morally certain that 
without the enthusiastic confidence in its success 
generously manifested by Alfred Vail, the young 
inventor, and his father Judge Stephen Vail, who 
freely contributed of his means to the experiments 
of Professor Morse, this great gift to the world 
would have been indefinitely delayed. 

Morse was poor. He had exhausted his means 
by the necessary time and thought given to the de- 
velopment of his conception, when the value of this 
work was realized by these two men. It was as an 
artist, that Morse went first to Speedwell, on 0( to- 
ber 29, 1837, to observe the progress of his new ma- 



Scientists. 413 

chinery which was being prepared there at the 
Speedwell Iron Works belonging to Judge Vail, by 
Alfred Vail and his assistant, William Baxter. 
Morse had accepted a commission, doubtless given 
him as a means of relieving his pecuniary stress, to 
paint the portraits of several members of Judge 
Vail's household. It will be remembered that be- 
sides his great invention, Professor Morse was an 
artist of considerable reputation, as well as an au- 
thor. In his youth, it is said, he was more strong- 
ly marked by his fondness for art than for science. 
He was a pupil of Washington AUston, a member 
of the Royal Academy, and studied with Benjamin 
West. He painted the portraits of many distin- 
guished men, among them the then President of 
the United States, James Monroe, for the city of 
Charleston ; and, later, Fitz Grreene Halleck and 
Chancellor Kent, now in the Astor Library, and the 
full length portrait of Lafayette for the city of New 
York. He was one of the founders and was first 
President of the National Academy of Design, and 
it was on his return from the pursuit of his renew- 
ed study of art abroad that he met with the remark- 
able experience which turned his attention from 
art to invention and gave him his life work. In a 
letter written to Alfred Vail by Professor Morse, 
and given in Mr. Vail's book on ' ' The American 
Electro-Magnetic Telegraph", (page 153), we find 
the following account : 



414 Scientists. 

"In 1826, the lectures before the New York 
Atheneum, of Dr. J. F. Dana, who was my partic- 
ular friend, gave to me the first knowledge ever 
possessed of electro magnetism, and some of the 
properties of the electro magnet ; a knowledge 
which I made available in 1832, as the basis of my 
own plan of an electro telegraph. I claim to be the 
original suggestor and inventor of the electric mag- 
netic telegraph, on the 19th of October, 1832, on 
board the packet ship Sully, on my voyage from 
France to the United States and, consequently, the 
inventor of the first veally practicable telegraph on 
the electric p)rincip)le. The plan then conceived and 
drawn out in all its essential characteristics, is the 
one now in successful operation." 

Professor Morse had niore honors and medals 
than perhaps any American living. He belonged 
to a distinguished literary family. His two broth- 
ers founded The Neiu York Observer in 1823. This 
is now the oldest weekly in New York and the old- 
est religious paper in the State. As an author, he 
wielded the pen of a ready writer. He not only 
published controversial pamphlets concerning the 
telegraph, but contributed articles and poems to 
many magazines and edited the works of Lucretia 
Maria Davidson, accompanying them by a personal 
memoir. He published in 1835, a book entitled, 
" Foreign Conspiracy against the Liberties of the 
United States ; Imminent Dangers to the Free In- 



Scientists. 415 

stitutions of the United States through Foreign Im- 
migration and the Present State of the Naturaliza- 
tion Laws, by an American". Later were pubhsh- 
ed "Confessions of a French Cathohc Priest, to 
which are added Warnings to the People of the 
United States, by the same Author", (edited and 
pubHshed with an introduction, 183T), and "Our 
Liberties Defended, the Question Discussed, is the 
Protestant or Papal System most favorable to Civil 
and Rehgious Liberty". 



aifreK ITail. 



To Alfred Vail belongs a place of honor, as the 
author of a valuable book on "The American Elec- 
tro-Magnetic Telegraph", and a place of honor, al- 
so, as having been the man tO perceive, at a critical 
moment, the importance to the world of the great 
invention of Professor Morse. He was among the 
spectators who witnessed the first operation of the 
electro-magnetic telegraph at the New York Uni- 
versity and saw then, for the first time, the appa- 
ratus. Of this occasion he writes as follows : "I 



416 Scientists. 

was struck with the rude machine, containing, as I 
believed, the germ of what was destined to produce 
great changes in the condition and relations of 
mankind." Again, he says, ^'I rejoiced to carry 
out the plans of Professor Morse. I promised him 
assistance, provided he would admit me to a share 
of the invention, — to which proposition he assent- 
ed. I returned to my rooms, locked my door, threw 
myself upon the bed and gave myself up to the re- 
flections upon the mighty results whicli were cer- 
tain to follow the introduction of this new agent in 
serving the wants of the world". With this intense 
conviction, young Vail communicated his enthusi- 
asm to his father. Judge Stephen Vail, who owned 
the Speedwell Iron Works and who generously sup- 
plied the means by which the plans for the electric 
telegraph were put into successful operation. It is 
an interesting fact that these same Speedwell Iron 
Works are variously connected with the history of 
the country, for "here was forged the shaft of the 
Savannah, the first steamship that crossed the At- 
lantic and here were manufactured the tires, axles 
and cranks of the first American locomotives." 
Here, also, may be seen, to-day, in the lar^e 
wooden building now going to decay, the two great 
machines, the planer and lathe, which were used in 
the making of all this machinery. Up a flight of 
stairs, on the second floor, was what was called 
"the workshop," in which a special room was 



O 1^ 

g 3 

>^ o 




Scientists. 419 

purposely built aud fitted up for Alfred Vail and 
Baxter (his young assistant), and Captain James 
Davis (the first machinist of the establishment), to 
work under the utmost secrecy, with locked doors, 
upon the construction of the new machinery for 
Professor Morse's experiment with the telegraph. 
" Here they worked night and day", (says Baxter), 
till its completion. The old stone building within 
the Iron Works enclosure, between the bridge and 
Morristown, is still standing and always contained 
the forge. On the outside were the letters ''S. 
v.", for Stephen Vail. The "S." alone remains. 

In The Century for April 188S, is a most inter- 
esting article, entitled ^The American Inventors 
of the Telegraph, with Special Eeference to the 
Services of Alfred Vail". Tliis is exhaustive of the 
subject, was written by Franklin Leonard Pope, 
and was supervised by Mrs. Alfred Vail, the state- 
ments being fortified by documents, correspondence 
and designs, in her possession. To Mr. James 
Cummings Vail, of Morris Plains, son of Alfred 
Vail, we are indebted for the use of the plate of 
the Speedwell Iron Works, re- drawn from an 
ancient invoice, the age of which is not known. 
The illustration of the "Factory" in which the first 
successful trial and, afterwards, the first public ex- 
hibition, of the electric telegraph took place, is 
from a photograph of the building as it stands at 
the present day, on the lot in which stands the 



420 Scientists. 

homestead house, now occupied by Mrs. John H, 
Lidgerwood, the grand-daughter of Judge Yail. 

Of these buildings and associations, Mrs. Lid- 
gerwood writes as fohows, Dec. 12, 1892 : 

" My grand-father makes but three entries in 
his diary : 

" ' 1838, January Oth. Dr. Gale came this 
morning. They (Prof. Morse, Alfred Yail and the 
Dr.) have worked the Tellegraph in the Factory 
this evening for the first time.' 

" ' 10th. Mr. Morse and Alfred are working 
and showing the Tellegraph.' 

" '11th. A hundred came to see the Telle- 
graph work.' " (Of these, the late Mrs. Jacob W. 
Miller was one.) 

^' The old house'', continues Mrs. Lidgerwood, 
''in which my grandfather then lived, still remains 
near the foot of the hill nearest the town. The in- 
terior has been entirely changed and I never knew 
the room occupied by Professor Morse. 

"The shop, in which the machine was con- 
structed, and which was called the 'work shop', has 
also been rebuilt. Its four walls are all that are 
left of the original building. The floor of that room 
was taken away to make a one story building and 
the windows were put in the roof. It is now en- 
tirely vacant and stands on the side of the dam op- 
posite the saw mill, the gable end of the old shop 
facing the road. One end of the foundation was 



Scientists. 421 

partly torn away by the freshet that destroyed the 
old bridge. The experiments were made in a build- 
ing called 'The Factory', which is at the foot of 
our lawn. It was built for a Cotton Factory, but 
only used for making buttons, owing, I believe, to 
some fault in its construction. 

"My grandfather has told me frequently that 
the machine was placed on the first floor, and about 
three miles of copper wire, insulated by being wound 
with cotton yarn, was wound around the walls of 
the second story. There are some hooks still in the 
side walls but I do not know if they are the same. 
I have still a small portion of the original w^ire used 
in the experiments. I do not know the age of any 
of these buildings. The works were probably here 
long before the Revolution. I have heard my 
grandfather say there was a forge here at that 
time." 

It must be remembered that to construct a tel- 
egraph line, in those days, with miles of wire, was 
quite a different thing from what it would be now, 
as wire was then made by hand. There is a story 
told of one of our prominent financiers, now living, 
who said emphatically it could not be done because 
it required so much wire. 

Standing in this building, the '' Factory", it is 
not difficult to imagine the momentous moment, 
when all present were waiting breathlessly to know 
the result ; when the message— written on paper 



422 Scientists. 

by Judge Yail, " a patient waiter is no loser," and 
sent by Alfred Yail, who was seated near the door 
at his machine — was received by Professor Morse, 
at his battery on the second story, and read aloud. 
The identical machine used on this occasion, is now 
loaned by the family to the Smithsonian Institute, 
Washington, D. C. 

From the time this first telegraphic message 
was sent by Alfred Yail from the '^Factory" at 
Speedwell and received by Professor Morse three 
miles away, {i. e. , with three miles of copper wire 
between them), and the next experiment when 
Morse and Yail operated with complete success 
'through ten miles of space, — ^to the final triumpli 
at Washington, many and great were the perils and 
moments of anguish through which the inventors 
passed. It was on the 2-l:th of May, 1811, when the 
supreme test of tlie telegraph was made at Wash- 
ington and tiie message was sent to Mr. Yail in 
Baltimore, in the words selected by Miss Annie G. 
Ellsworth and taken from Numbers xxiii, 23, 
'' What hath God wrought." 

During these years Alfred Yail, it is claimed, 
had " not only become a full partner in the owner- 
ship of the invention, but had supplied the entire 
resources and facilities for obtaining patents and 
for constructing the apparatus for exhibition at 
Washington ; and more than this, he had intro- 
duced essential improvements not only in the me- 



Scientists. 423 

chanism, but in the fundamental principles of the 
telegraph." Vail felt that Morse had not acknowl- 
edged, as he expected, his (Vail's) part in the in- 
vention or fully recognized his rights of partner- 
ship. Of this, the Hon. Amos Kendall, the friend 
and associate of both, has said: "If justice is 
done, the name of Alfred Vail will forever stand 
associated with that of Samuel F. B. Morse in the 
history and introduction into public use of the elec- 
tro-magnetic telegraph." 

Mr. Vail's book, which has place in most of the 
prominent libraries of Europe and America, was 
published in 1845 and is entitled '' The American 
Electro-Magnetic Telegraph with the Eeports of 
Congress and a description of all Telegraphs known, 
employing Electricity or Galvanism". It is illustra- 
ted by eighty-one wood engravings. 



asauiiam (Sral)am Sumner, illL. IB. 



Professor Sumner is a New Jersey man, born 
at Paterson. He inherited from his father, Thomas 
Sumner, who came to this country from Eng- 



-^2^1: Scientists. 

land in 1836, several important qualities which 
those who know the son will recognize. Thomas 
Sumner, we are told, was a man of the strictest in- 
tegrity, of indefatigable industry, of sturdy com- 
mon sense and possessing the courage of his con- 
victions. Two of Professor Sumner's early teach- 
ers in Hartford, one of them Mr. S. M. Capron, in 
the classical department, had also great influence 
upon his character. He was graduated from Yale 
College in 1863. In the summer of that year, he 
w^ent abroad, studied French and Hebrew in G-ene- 
va, after which he spent two 3^ears at the Universi- 
ty of Grottingen, in the study of ancient languages, 
history, especially church history, and biblical 
science. Here, he tells us, he was "taught rigor- 
ous and pitiless methods of investigation and de- 
duction. Their analysis was their strong point. 
Their negative attitude toward the poetic element, 
their indifference to sentiment, even religious sen- 
timent, w^as a fault, seeing that they studied the 
Bible as a religious book and not for philology and 
history only ; but their method of study was nobly 
scientific, and was worthy to rank, both for its re- 
sults and its discipline, with the best of the natural 
science methods. " 

Mr. Sumner went to Oxford in 1866, with the 
intention and desii-e of reading English literature 
on the same subjects which he had pursued at Gott- 
ingen. " I expected," he says, '^ to find it rich and 



Scientists. 425 

independent. I found that it consisted of second- 
hand adaptation of what I had just been study- 
ing." 

Eeturning to this country, while tutor in Yale 
College, in 1866, Mr. Sumner published a transla- 
tion of Lange's *' Commentary on Second Kings". 
In 1867, he was ordained deacon in the Protestant 
Episcopal Church, and two years later, he received 
full ordination in New York and became assistant 
to Eev. Dr. Washburn at Calvary Church, New 
York, under whom he was made editor of a broad 
church paper. In September, 1870, he became rec- 
tor of the Church of the Eedeemer at Morristown, 
N. J., from which event he claims our attention as 
an author. With regard to the course of his young 
ministry in this parish he says : ' ' When I came to 
write sermons, I found to what a degree my inter- 
est lay in topics of social science and political econ- 
omy. There was then no public interest in the cur- 
rency and only a little in the tariff. I thought that 
these were matters of the most urgent importance, 
which threatened all the interests, moral, social and 
economic, of the nation, and I was young enough to 
believe that they would all be settled in the next 
four or five years. It was not possible to preach 
about them, but I got so near to it that I was de- 
tected sometimes, as, for instance, when a New 
Jersey banker came to me, as I came down from 



^26 Scientists. 

the pulpit, and said : ' There was a great deal of 
pohtical economy in that sermon.' " 

In September, 1872, Mr. Sumner accepted the 
chair of Pohtical and Social Science at Yale Col- 
lege, in which he has so highly distinguished him- 
self. Of this he says : "I had always been very 
fond of teaching and knew that the best work I 
could ever do in the world would be in that profes- 
sion ; also that I ought to be in an academical ca- 
reer. I had seen two or three cases of men who, 
in that career, would have achieved distinguished 
usefulness, but who were wasted in the parish and 
pulpit". 

In IS 84, Prof. Sumner received the degree of 
LL. D. from the University of Tennessee. A distin- 
guished American economist well acquainted with 
Prof. Sumner's work, has given to a writer from 
whom we quote, the following estimate of his meth- 
od and of his position and influence as a public 
teacher: "For exact and comprehensive knowl- 
edge Prof. Sumner is entitled to take the first place 
in the ranks of American economists ; and as a 
teacher he has no superior. His leadhig mental 
characteristic he has himself well stated in descri- 
bing the characteristics of his former teachers at 
Gottingen ; namely, as ' bent on seeking a clear 
and comprehensive conception of the matter "or 
truth" under study, without regard to any conse- 
(piencevS whatever,' and further, when in his own 



Scientists. 427 

mind Prof. SuQiner is fully satisfied as to what the 
truth is, he has no hesitation in boldly declaring it, 
on every fitting occasion, without regard to conse- 
quences. If the theory is a ' spade', he calls it a 
spade, and not an implement of husbandry." 

Professor Sumner has published, besides Lange's 
^'Commentary on the Second Book of Kings", the 
"History of American Currency" ; " Lectures on 
the History of Protection in the United States"; 
" Life of Andrew Jackson", in the American States- 
men series; " Wha.t Social Classes Owe to Each 
Other"; " Economic Problems"; " Essays on Polit- 
ical and Social Science"; "Protectionism"; "Alex- 
ander Hamilton", in the Makers of America series, 
(1890); "The Financier (Robert Morris) and the 
Finances of the American Revolution", (1891) ; be- 
sides a large number of magazine articles on the 
same line of subjects. 



iSltDPU smaller, P). 23. 



Three writers now present themselves, each of 
whom is distinguished in his department, one of 



428 Scientists. 

Chemistry, one of Mining and Metallurgy, and one 
of Mathematics. The Author's Club would ex- 
€lude these brilliant men from recognition, but 
here the clause of our title, " and Writers", saves 
us. Prof. Waller amusingly expresses the position 
when he says, ''I supposed that reference in your 
book would be made to those who had achieved 
more or less distinction in what has sometimes 
been termed ' polite literature. ' While I am not 
read}^ to admit that the literature of my profession 
(chemistry) is ^impolite', it probably is too tech- 
nical to come within the scope of your work." 

Like many of our residents, Dr. Waller's time 
is divided between New York and Morristown, be- 
ing Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Columbia 
School of Mines, New York. He has written 
much of value ; innumerable pamphlets and articles 
for various magazines, for chemical periodicals and 
Sanitary Reports and for journals far and wide, 
both technical and general in character, among 
which are The Engineering and Mining Journal 
and The Century. He has written certain articles 
for Johnson's Encyclopaedia and has edited articles 
in other books all of which are to be reckoned as 
technical, but valuable contributions to current 
chemical literature. He has completed a book on 
"Quantitative Chemical Analysis", fi'om the MSS. 
of one of his Colleagues, which was left unfinished 
in 1ST9 and he is now engaged in revising and 



Scientists. 429 

practically re-writing the same work. Besides, he 
has written charming gossipy letters for The Even- 
ing Post, and The Evening Mail, of New York, 
from various far-off islands and inland points, 
where he has usually made one of a scientific party. 
One series of letters was written while a member 
of the U. S. St. Domingo Expedition. 



(gcorge SSB, fWaimarti, ^Ij. m. 



Another scientific man, ranking high in his de- 
partment of Mining and Engineering, is Professor 
George W. Maynard, who is just now principally 
engaged in Colorado, passing back and forth be- 
tween that State and his home in Morristown. He 
has had extensive travels over our own country 
and continent, and abroad. He is a close observer 
and many of us are familiar with his graphic de- 
scriptions of the scenes which he has witnessed, 
notably in Mexico, also with the illustrated lectures 
on these and other subjects, which he has gener- 
ously given from time to time. 

Professor Maynard is a graduate of Columbia 



430 Scientists. 

College, New York, and was Demonstrator in 
Chemistry in that College for a year. He then 
studied abroad at Grottingen, Clousthal and Beiiin, 
and was for four years Professor of Mining and 
Metallurgy in the Eensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 
of Troy, N. Y. His published writings, which have 
mostly been of a technical character, have appear- 
ed in various technical journals, and in the "Trans- 
actions of the American Institute of Mining Engi- 
neers," and in " The Journal of the Iron and Steel 
Institute of Great Britain". Of the above men- 
tioned societies, he is an active member, and also 
of the New York Academy of Sciences. 



iEmoaj iiiilcCKintocfe, EiL. 30. 



The third of our group of specialists is Dr. 
Emory McClintock, wliom one of his brother scien- 
tists warns us we should " not forget to mention 
as he is one of the most eminent mathematicians 
in the United States". As associated with Morris- 
town, in his beautiful home on Kemble Hill, higli 
overlooking the Lowantica valley and scenes full of 



Scientists. 431 

memories of the Eevolution, we claim him with 
pride, in spite of his saying that his writings have 
all been records of scientific researches and not lite- 
rary in any sense and that he has never written a 
book, big or little, nor even a magazine article. It 
remains, that his many writings are of great value 
as published in pamphlet form or in periodicals of 
technical character, such as The Bulletin of the 
Neiu York Mathematical Society, which is "A 
Historical and Critical Review of Mathematical 
Science"; or. The American Journal of Mathemat- 
ics from which a large pamphlet is reprinted on 
" The Analysis of Quintic Equations", or, in the di- 
rection of his art, or specialty, as a life insurance 
actuary, where appears, among other writings, a 
large pamphlet on "The Effects of Selection" — ^be- 
ing "An Actuarial Essay", in which we find un- 
usually interesting matter for the general reader. 



anirreto Jf. fflgaest, EH. IB. 



Professor West, of Princeton College, is well 
remembered as a resident of Morristown for two 



432 Scientists. 

years, (1881-1883). He was at that time, the pre- 
decessor of Mr. Charles D. Piatt at the Morris Acad- 
emy, and mingled largely in the literary, social and 
musical circles of the city. He, like Dr. McClin- 
tock, is a Pennsylvanian, and was born at Pitts- 
burg. 

Since Mr. West accepted a professorship at 
Princeton College, which was the occasion of his 
leaving Morristown, he has written largely on clas- 
sical and medieval subjects. 

His last book, just published, by Charles Scrib- 
ner's Sons, New York, 1892, is entitled " Alcuin 
and the Rise of the Christian Schools." It appears 
in the Series of " The Great Educators ", edited by 
Nicholas Murray Butler. It is a volume of 205 
pages, and contains a sketch of Alcuin at York 
and at Tours, also treating of his educational wri- 
tings, his character, his pupils, and his later influ- 
ence. 

Various hterary, philological and educational 
articles in reviews have been contributed by Pro- 
fessor West, and two books additional to the one 
mentioned, have been published by him. These 
are "The Andria and Heauton Timorumenos, of 
Terence," edited with intioduction and notes, and 
published by Harper and Brothers (1888) ; and 
" The Philobiblon of Richard de Bury," edited from 
the manuscripts, translated and. annotated. The 
latter is in three volumes : I., The Latin Text ; II., 



Scientists. 433 

The English Version ; III., Introduction and Notes. 
Printed by Theodore De Vinne for the Grolier Club 
of New York. (1889). 



Joise Ctog. 



From the shores of Spain, has come to us one 
of our advanced thinkers and writers, Senor Jose 
Grros. He is a disciple of Henry G-eorge and, on one 
occasion, introduced that distinguished man to a 
Morristown audience, in our Lyceum Hall, giving, 
to a large number of people assembled, the oppor- 
tunity of listening to his own exposition of the 
views about which so wide and warm a controversy 
has raged. 

Senor Gros was born and educated in Spain. 
He has traveled extensively through Italy, France, 
Germany, England, and a portion of our own 
country, finally taking a position in a commercial 
house in New York, in 1859, in which he remained 
until 1870, when he retired to Morristown. Since 
then, in his own words, he has '^ dedicated most of 
his time to the study of history and science, more 



43-1: Scientists. 

especially social science," for which he has been 
writing articles for western magazines and jour- 
nals and also for one or more of our local papers. 

In the Locomotive Firemen's Magazine, of Terre 
Haute, Indiana, a large number of these articles 
have appeared. Thev go wich this magazine to all 
the States and Territories of the Union, to parts of 
Canada and Mexico, and they are connected with 
over 500 Labor Clubs. The subject of one series of 
these papers is "Civilization With its Problems". 
Other subjects are, " The Struggle for Existence"; 
"Confusion in Economic Thought"; " Govern- 
ments by Statics or Dynamics"; "Congested Civ- 
ilizations"; " Social Skepticism", and a series on 
''To-day's Problems". In all his arguments, Senor 
Gros considers as vital to advance in Social Science 
the principles of the Christian religion. "No 
system," he says, "can save us from disasters 
without clear perceptions of duty on what I call 
' Christian citizenship.' " 



MEDICAL AUTHORS 

AND 

WRITERS. 



OTontiict MA. OTutler, J*T. S^., ftt. Jl 



Dr. Cutler^ claims through his father, the Hon. 
Augustus W. Cutler, as ancestor, the Hon. Silas 
Condict, one of the most renowned patriots of the 
Eevolution, and his childhood and boyhood was 
spent in the house which was built, in 1799, by this 
great-great-grandfather and occupied by him. It 
has been owned and occupied since then, and is 
now, by Hon. Augustus W. Cutler. The old house, 
in which Silas Condict previously lived, is still 
standing about a mile west of the present Cutler 
residence. Many historic incidents and traditions 
cluster about this place. 



436 Medical Writers. 

Dr. Cutler has done credit to this ancestor's 
memory in his exceptionally successful career. A 
member of many societies, and associate editor of 
The Neiv York Epitome of Medicine, he has written 
largely for journals and magazines, besides pub- 
lishing three books, which are entitled '^Differen- 
tial Medical Diagnosis"; "Differential Diagnosis of 
the Diseases of the Skin", and "Essentials of Phys- 
ics and Chemistry." These, say the medical and 
surgical critics, are prepared with care and thor- 
oughness and show a wise use of standard text- 
books and the exercise of critical judgment guided 
by practical experience. 

Many may think that the books belonging to 
Materia Medica, being of technical character, do 
not come directly within our province, but we may 
say everything in the line of authorship is within 
our broad range, and we are glad to say empha- 
tically that nothing, not even theological questions, 
concern mankind more deeply than just this great 
question upon which Dr. Cutler has expended so 
much thought and labor and which too is the re- 
sult of his experience as a medical man, — namely, 
the Differential Diagnosis of Disease. When we 
take into consideration the fact, that no disease can 
be successfully treated until it is known and as it 
cannot be known without being properly diagnosed, 
and as successful diagnoses depend upon just such 
principles and relations as Dr. Cutler demonstrates, 



Medical Writers. 43T 

we can see the value of the work even though we 
may not belong to the medical fraternity. More 
than all, we can see the benefit which such a work 
confers upon mankind at large and not alone upon 
the healers of diseased and afflicted humanity. Let 
any one go into the houses of the poor, the streets 
and the alleys, and into the overflowing hospitals, 
and witness the immensity of the evil of that terri- 
ble phase of disease, ^'The Skin Diseases" of which 
Dr. Cutler treats, and he will realize what earnest 
thanks we owe to a man whose life work is to de- 
vote his time and brains to the alleviation of this 
type of human suffering. 



P)auet (C. 13arker, M. 20. 



Dr. Barker, of Morristown, has for twenty-five 
years past written more or less, from time to time, 
for medical journals published in New York and 
Philadelphia. The majority of these contributions 
have been of a practical character and consequently 
rather brief. Some of them have been formal stud- 
ies of practical questions, such as "The Vaccina- 



438 Medical Writers. 

tion Question", questions connected with Sanitary 
Science, &c. Of the latter, one we would mention 
in particular, entitled, "The Germ Theory of Dis- 
ease and its Eelations to Sanitation". In this the 
writer tells us : "The germ theory of disease is 
destined to hold a place in literature as the romance 
of medicine, and if it stands the test of time, and 
the scrutiny which is certain to he bestowed upon 
it, the theory will mark an epoch for all time to 
come. The present century has been distiiiguished 
in many and various ways, which need not be allu- 
ded to in this connection. Among the discoveries 
and improvements of the age, Sanitary Science oc- 
cupies an important, a commanding position, that 
can hardly be exaggerated. Indeed it has contrib- 
uted more to civilization and to the well-being of 
the human race than steam, electricity or any oth- 
er scientific or economic discovery." Then the wri- 
ter refers to the condition of Englishmen who lived 
in the fourteenth century, and traces the ravages 
of the Black Death to the people's mode of living. 
He sketches the epidemics that have prevailed in 
the world at various periods, and asserts that even 
"chronology has been changed and the fate of 
great and powerful peoples like those of Athens, of 
Rome and of Florence, has been sealed by the di- 
rect or indirect effects of what we now term pre- 
ventible diseases." 

Such contributions as Dr. Barker has made to 
general literature have had relation to economic 



Medical Writers. 439 

questions generally, although the jDreparation of a. 
few papers on "Popular Astronomy", "Meteoro- 
logical Observations" and "Fishing in Remote 
Canadian Waters" have served, as he says, "to rest 
and refresh his mind, when harassed by anxieties 
incident to the practice of his profession." These 
papers have been published, — the former in New 
York City or in our local papers, and the latter in 
The Forest and Stream. One of the pamphlet 
publications on popular astronomy is unusually at- 
tractive and is entitled " The Stars and the Earth'\ 



l^orare a. ISuttolpl), Hfl. JB,, HH. 23. 



Dr. Buttolph, whose professional life, as connec- 
ted with the care and treatment of the insane in 
three large institutions, in New York and New Jer- 
sey, covering a period of forty-two years, although 
devoted so exclusively to administrative, profession- 
al and personal details, that little time was left to 
engage in writing for the press, beyond the prepa- 
ration of the usual annual Eeports of such institu- 
tions, has, nevertheless turned that little time to 
good account. 



440 Medical Writers. 

The State Asylum for the Insane at Morris- 
town was under the superintendence of Dr. But- 
tolph from its opening in August 1876 to the last 
day of the year 1884, when he tendered his resigna- 
tion. Previous to this he had been in charge of the 
Trenton Asylum from May 1848 to April 1876, 
making a period of unbroken service in New Jersey 
of more than thirty -seven years, during which 
time these buildings were organized on his plan, 
and that of Morris Plains, with its extensive ma- 
chinery, was mostly planned by him. One special- 
ty of his invention, in the line of machinery in 
both institutions, in use for many years, — that of 
making aerated or unfermented bread, which is 
most cleanly, healthful and economical, is probably 
not in use in any institution in the world, outside 
of New Jersey. 

Dr. Buttolph was born in Dutchess County, N. 
Y., and w^as graduated from the Berkshire Medical 
Institution at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1835. Having 
been early attracted to the study of insanity, he 
made it a specialty and accepted a position in the 
new State Lunatic Asylum, at Utica, N. Y., in 
1843. This he retained until 1847 when he went as 
Medical Superintendent to the State Lunatic Asy- 
lum near Trenton, N. J. During the previous 
year, while still attached to the Utica Asylum, he 
went abroad to study the architecture and manage- 
ment of other institutions and visited thirty or 



Medical Writers. 441 

more of the principal asylums in Great Britain, 
Prance and Germany. At this time very few in- 
stitutions for the insane had been established in 
this country and all sorts of problems had to be 
worked out. Dr. Buttolph soon came to be a very 
high authority and, in that recognized capacity, he 
was chosen to direct the Asylum at Morris Plains, 
which is the largest in the United States and one 
of the best equipped in the world. It was a matter 
of very great regret to his large circle of friends in 
Morristown, and out of it, when he found it im- 
possible to remain longer in the charge he had tilled 
so faithfully and well. 

Dr. Buttolph's writings have been on insanity 
or mental derangement ; also on the organization 
and management of hospitals for the insane ; the 
classification of the insane with special reference 
to the most natural and satisfactory method of 
their treatment, etc. These writings have been 
published in many magazines and journals, and a 
large number in pamphlet form. Also addresses, 
delivered on impoi'tant occasions or before societies, 
have been published in pamphlet form. Of these, 
one is widely known, given before the Association 
of Medical Superintendents of American Institu- 
tions for the Insane, at Saratoga, N. Y., June 17, 
1885, on " The Physiology of the Brain and its Re- 
lations in Health and Disease to the Faculties of 
the Mind." 



AUTHORS AND WRITERS 



ON 



ART 



5ri)omagi Na^t. 



Mr. Nast, who has for so long been identified 
with Morristown, may be designated both as artist 
and bookmaker. In the true sense of the term, au- 
thor, he may then be fairly presented, as probably 
no living man has wielded a greater influence 
through his power of expression. Many readers of 
this sketch will remember the constei'nation that 
prevailed upon the revelation of the Tweed Ring 
scandals and at the question of Tweed himself as 
he defied the City of New York, — " What are you 
going to do about it ? " They will remember how 
Mr. Nast, with wonderful courage and grasp of the 



Art 443 

situation, came to the front and at great personal 
risk to himself and family, threw with steady aim, 
the stone which killed that Goliath of Gath and put 
to rout the Philistines. They will remember 
Tweed's exclamation : "I can stand anything but 
those pictures ! " Mr. Nast, then, is a hero in our 
history, and the fact cannot be forgotten. 

When the Washington Headquarters was first 
purchased from the Ford family, the original own- 
ers, by a few gentlemen who organized the Wash- 
ington Association to preserve the historic building 
and grounds for a national possession, many will 
remember how Mr. Nast entered into the spirit of 
the Centennial Celebration there in 1875, when so 
many of the prominent men and women of Morris- 
town took part, wearing the dress of the Revolu- 
tion and working hard to accomphsh the end of fit- 
ting up the building by the proceeds of the enter- 
tainment. All were astonished by the result in sales 
of tickets, collation, and little hatchets, of between 
eleven and twelve hundred dollars in one single af- 
ternoon and evening ; so much, that the amount 
was divided between the Headquarters and the 
'' Library" of Morristown, then in its beginning. 
Mr. Nast had jnuch to do with this success. He 
worked early and late at the decorations and filled 
one of the k^i'gest rooms with his immense and hu- 
morous cartoons of scenes in the Revohition and 
the stories of George Washington. 



444: Art. 

The book published by Mr. Nast is now in our 
library, "Miss Columbia's Public School", and is a 
€lever satire on the Northern and Southern boy and 
the general condition of Miss Columbia's pupils in 
the time of our Civil War. It was issued in 1871. 

Another charming publication of Mr. Nast was 
brought out by the Harper Brothers for Christmas, 
1889, under the title of "Thomas Nast's Christmas 
Drawings for the Human Eace". Of this says one 
of the critics of the time : "His Santa Claus, jolly 
vagabond that he is, seems to radiate a warmth 
more genial than tropic airs, and a gayety that 
overbears tlie sadness of experience. 'What a 
mug' does he show us on the title page ; so kindly, 
so roguish, so venerable, so comical, so shrewd, so 
pugnaciously cheerful ! How seriously he takes 
himself, and yet what a wink in those twinkling 
eyes, as who should say, 'Confidentially, of course, 
w^e admit the fraud, but mum's the word where 
the children are concerned I' " 

Thomas Nast came from Bavaria, with his 
father, at the age of six, and at fourteen was a 
pupil for a few mouths of Theodore Kaufmann, 
soon after beginning his career, as draughtsman 
on an illustrated paper. In 1860, as special artist 
for a New York weekly paper, he went abroad and 
while there, followed Garibaldi in Italy, making 
sketches for London, Paris and New York illus- 
trated papers. His war sketches appeared in 



Art. 4:4:5 

Harper'' s Weekly on his return in 1862. The pohti- 
cal condition of national affairs gave him opportu- 
nity for manifesting his peculiar gift for represent- 
ing in condensed form, a powerful thought. His 
first pohtical caricature established his reputation. 
It was an allegorical design which gave a powerful 
blow to the peace party. Besides the Harper^s 
Weekly sketches, Mr. Nast has contributed to other 
papers and has illustrated books in addition to those 
mentioned, in particular Petroleum V. Nasby's 
book. For many years, he brought out "Nast's 
Illustrated Almanac". 

In the principal cities of the United States, Mr. 
Nast has lectured, illustrating his lectures with 
rapidly executed caricature sketches, in black and 
white, and in colored crayons. It is said by a con- 
temporary writer that "in the particular line of pic- 
torial satire, Thomas Nast stands in the foremost 
rank." 



Ui\ ^ Art. 



The Eev. Dr. Flagg, recently a resident of Mor- 
ristown, has just pubhshed a dehghtful and import- 
ant book on the ' ' Life and Letters of Washington 
Allston", Scribner's Sons, November, 1892. It is il- 
lustrated by reproductions from AUston's paintings. 
Many remember the very striking full length por- 
traits of Wni. H. Vanderbilt, Mr. Evarts and oth- 
ers, which were shown in Dr. Flagg's gallery in 
Morristown, on the occasion of a reception given at 
his residence here, a few years ago. 

In addition to the book above mentioned. Dr. 
Flagg has wi-itten a great deal as a clergyman. He 
belongs to an artistic family, of New Haven, Conn. 
His brother, George, was considered in his youth a 
prodigy and his pictures and portraits attained ce- 
lebrity. His style resembles the Venetian School, 
like that of his uncle, Washington Allston, with 
whom he studied. Dr. Flagg studied with both his 
brother and his uncle, and began as an artist at an 
early age, painting professionally and earning a 
living at sixteen. At twenty, " his love of letters, 
and fear of Hell," as he says, led him to connect 
himself with Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., and 
to study for the church. After an active ministry 
of ten years, during eight of which he was rector of 



Art. Ul 

Grace Church, Brooklyn Heights, his health broke 
down, and he devoted what strength he had left 
to artistic and literary pursuits, in which he is still 
engaged and in which, he tells us, he finds increas- 
ing interest with declining years. 



3aeb. J. Heoimrrr (Sorning; 3i. 23 



Dr. Corning has already been represented, in 
our group of Poets. He has passed much of his 
life abroad and has made a special study of art, up- 
on which he is an authority. He was for several 
years a regular contributor to The Independent and 
The Christian Union on art subjects, and wrote 
for The Manhattan Magazine, a series of articles, 
among them, on the "Luther Monument at 
Worms"; " William Ltibke" and " Women Artists 
of the Olden Time". The fruits of his art study 
have largely been put into the form of popular lec- 
tures, which he has delivered in many of the large 
American cities. 

It is remembered that some years ago, during 
his residence in Morristown, Dr. Corning gave a se- 



448 Art. 

ries of art lectures with illustrations, for the benefit 
of the Morristown Library. The proceeds were de- 
voted to the purchase of books on art and the vol- 
umes thus added were selected by Dr. Corning. In 
this way, the library is indebted to him for very 
valuable additions. 



(Keorge i^evtert JttcOTort, a. N. a. 



Mr. McCord, of the National Academy, is best 
known to us as an artist, bringing before us, with 
his magic brush, historic scenes of England, pictu- 
resque views of Canada, on the St. Lawrence and 
elsewhere, and many of our own country, among 
them spots of beauty about Morristown, which 
other eyes perhaps have not discovered until shown 
to them by him. But, he is also an art critic and 
one of those writers of out of door life, who find, 
like Hamerton, both rest and recreation among the 
scenes which he transfers to his canvas. Often he 
contributes to our papers and magazines current 
news from the art world to which he so essentially 
belongs. Sometimes, in his contributions to The 



Art. 44^ 

Richfield News, for which he writes, he gives us a 
bit of word painting that is scarcely less poetic than 
the creations of his canvas. More than all, Mr. 
McCord is not a croaker. He never comes before 
us with that chronic wail of the neglect of Ameri- 
can art. On the contrary, he tells us cheerfully 
that the most prominent dealers in foreign art pro- 
ductions are buying and selling works of American 
art. We like such cheerful summer writers, bring- 
ing bright visions of the future to our world of art. 
Mr. McCord's beautiful picture, "The Old Mill 
Eace", transfers to canvas a scene on the Whip- 
pany Eiver. It also makes a fine addition to a lit- 
tle collection of "Choice Bits in Etching", pub- 
lished by Mr. Eitchie. 



DRAMATIST 



ffigaUliam (S. ban Casisel Sutpijeu. 



Mr. Sutphen, who is now permanenth^ engaged 
in journalism, is no less a successful dramatist and, 
from the first, has shown those most attractive and 
rare qualities which are essentially requisite to 
reach dramatic success. A list of his more import- 
ant published works w411 show that he is no idler, 
and includes several bright, clever farces contribu- 
ted to Harper's Bazar, among them, " The Eeport- 
er"; "Hearing is Believing"; "Sharp Practice", 
and "A Soul Above Skittles". Not long ago ap- 
peared a romantic opera entitled "Mary Phillipse ; 
An Historical and Musical Picture, in Four Scenes. " 
This is founded on certain events in the history of 
the city of Yonkers, Westchester County, New 
York, between the years 1760 and 1776. It was set 



Dramatist. 451 

to music by George F. Le Jeune, and produced 
with marked success, June 30, 1892, at Yonkers 
and on succeeding dates. "Hearing is Believing" 
was performed twice in Morristown in the same 
winter. 

Mr. Sutphen pubhshed in the July number of 
Scribner's Magazine (1892), a poem entitled '^To 
Trojan Helen" and containing some fine verses. 
This is worthy of high place in Mr. Sutphen's in- 
tellectual work. Another poem of merit, "In- 
sciens", appeared also in Scrihnefs Magazine. 
In addition to these, miscellaneous verses and 
sketches have been contributed to Puck, Life^ Time 
and other periodicals, and in most cases, anony- 
mously. For the past eight years, Mr. Sutphen 
has had charge of the weekly edition of The New 
York World. While at Princeton College he was 
one of the editors of the Nassau Literary Magazine^ 
and one of the founders and first editor of the 
Princeton Tiger, an illustrated weekly, modeled 
on i\iQ Harvard Lampoon. "Condensed Dramas" 
and "Latterday Lyrics" should also be mentioned, 
a series of light sketches and verses contributed to 
Time during the existence of that periodical. 

It is, however, by his dramatic talent, that we 
wish to represent Mr. Sutphen, and for this reason 
we expected and would be glad to give in full, were 
it possible, " The Guillotine ; a Condensed Drama", 
which first appeared in The Argonaut, a San Fran- 



452 Dramatist. 

Cisco Journal. This is an extremely clever and wittj 
comedy, perhaps the best of his dramatic writings, 
to which an extract will hardly do justice. We 
are thankful to Mr. Sutphen for contributing a lit- 
tle of the laughter element to the condensed mass, 
included in this volume, of theology, history, phi- 
losophy, poetry, romance, mathematics, medicine, 
art and science. 

EXTRACT FEOM ^'THE GUILLOTINE." 

Scene : The Public Square in a French Toivn. In 
the centime of the square is seen a guillotine. Enter 
venerable gentleman of scientific aspect reading a 
newspaper. 

(In the first scene the professor, finding him- 
self alone with the guillotine and seeing a notice 
of an execution to take place three hours later, is 
impelled to examine the instrument. He adjusts 
the axe and works the spring until he masters the 
mechanism, and finds the spring on the right re- 
leases the knife, — spring on the left, the head. 
Finally he decides to put his own head on the block 
to try the sensation. Horrible ! he cannot remem- 
ber which is his right hand and which his left. 
While is this position, a party of tourists come 
along, armed with Baedekers and accompanied by 
a guide.) 

Guide {gesticulating)— Zare, ladies and gentle- 
mans. Ze cathedral ! Ah ! ciel ! Look at him. 



Dramatist. 453 

Magniiique ! {Chorus of " ahs^^ from tourists and 
general opening of Baedekers). 

Guide — Ze clock-tower ees of a colossity exces- 
sive. It elevates himself three hundred and eighty- 
six feet. {Immense enthusiasm.) At ze terminality 
of ze wall statue ze great Charlemagne. Superbel 
Chuck-a-block to him, Dagobert, Clovis and voila I 
{Catching hold of elderly tourist) Le bon Louis. 
{The tourists take notes luith painfid accuracy and 
minuteness). 

Elderly Tourist — Very interesting. Eose, 
my child, have you got all that down. How old is 
the cathedral, guide ? 

Guide — It has seven hundred and feefty-six 
years. 

Spinster Aunt {severely) — Baedeker says sev- 
en hundred and fifty-five. 

Guide {p^olitely) — It ees hees one mistake. {An 
exclamation from Rose. Everybody turns). 

EosE {pointing to guillotine) — Oh, do look 
there ! 

Spinster Aunt — It looks as though an execu- 
tion were in progress. Baedeker says — 

Elderly Tourist {eagerly)— Is it really so, 
guide ? 

Guide {indifferently) — Yes, but zare ees no fee 
and zarefore no objection in seeing it. It ees mod- 
ern — vat you call him — cheap-John. We will now 
upon ze clock-tower upheave ourselves. Zare are 
two hundred and one steps. 



464 Dramatist. 

Elderly Tourist — But we want to see the Ex- 
ecution. 

Guide — You enjoy ze ferocity ? Bah ! you 
shall have him. For one franc zare ees to see pic- 
ture S. Sebastian — ver' fine, all shot full wiz burn- 
ing arrows. 

Elderly Tourist — Never mind, we will wait. 
Do you think, guide, I would have time to go back 
and get my wife, — I am sure she would enjoy it ? 

■X- -Jf -Jf -X- -Jf 

(At the close of the play, the Professor, after 
various episodes, has been released from his peri- 
lous position, and the tourists return to find the 
guillotine empty. An officer announces that no 
execution will take place. The culprit has been 
reprieved.) 

Elderly Tourist — Outrageous ! 
Spinster Aunt — Shame ! 

The Professor — This is French all over. Now 
when I begin a thing I like to see it through. 

GrUiDE {seeing his opportunity) — Gentlemans, 
ze clock- tower. 

Elderly Tourist {with alacrity) — Very well, 
we'll see the clock-tower then. Remember that we 
are travelling for education and don't intend to 
miss anything. Come, Rose. 

Guide {leading the way out) — Directly on the 
vertical an aspect will have protruded himself. 
Possibly you may visualize Paris — 

Spinster Aunt— Baedeker says — {Curtain.) 



,A' 






A^^ "^^ 



-/>- 



> 



r-: I- 



%' 









^>-^^^- .,^> 



v-^' 



A^^% 



^ <e<= 



./ 



'^'^/^T^^' .6^ 






■0^ X 



vOo 






^ ^f 



.0 o^ 



^0^ .>1*/' 



. '%. 



.'0 



<. .. ■* A 



.\^^- '-^ 






oo^- 



o^ 



-':/^, 



• 



•^^ 



V I « z, <^ 






.^-^^i-. 



"t. V* 



-* <'A 



.•^^ c '^ 






•^.\V^' 






-^^ O^ 



^ - 



s'^ 



:^-% ^%- 



o 0' 






s> ■'■■f^. 






,0o. 



